Start with the parcel, not the mailing address. Town rules apply only inside town limits. Properties outside them follow Summit County rules. HOA covenants and deed restrictions can impose additional limits.
| Town / Zone | License Limit | New-Owner Pathway |
|---|---|---|
| Breckenridge Resort Property Zone | Qualifying resort inventory; no fixed Zone 1-3 cap | Generally available for designated qualifying properties. A license is still required. |
| Breckenridge Zone 1 – Tourism | 1,680 licenses | Town reported 1,221 issued and 467 available, no waitlist (July 2026). Verify remaining capacity before applying. |
| Breckenridge Zone 2 – Downtown core | 130 licenses | Full in published snapshot; waitlist. |
| Breckenridge Zone 3 – Residential | 390 licenses | 1,002 existing licenses exceed cap; waitlist. Do not assume near-term eligibility. |
| Silverthorne Area 1 – Most neighborhoods | 10% of area housing units | Town analysis: cap 215, 193 existing, 22 remaining (Aug. 3, 2026). Confirm capacity with town. |
| Silverthorne Area 2 – Core / Riverfront | 50% of area housing units | Town analysis: cap 526, 232 existing, 294 remaining (Aug. 3, 2026). Confirm parcel designation. |
| Silverthorne Area 3 – Deed restricted | STRs prohibited | Not eligible. |
| Frisco Townwide | 900 licenses / 25% of housing stock | Cap reached; ordinary new applications require a waitlist. |
| Dillon Townwide | No numerical cap identified in reviewed program | Qualifying properties can apply; approval and private restrictions still apply. |
| Keystone Townwide | No cap “at this time” | Qualifying properties can apply any time; no waitlist. Town clerk decides within 30 days of a complete application. |
Availability is not a reservation or approval. A seller’s active license or rental history does not guarantee a buyer’s right to rent. Keystone incorporated in 2024 and has licensed STRs inside its town limits since September 30, 2024; Summit County rules no longer apply there.
Budget for licensing separately from guest lodging taxes.
| Town | Annual License Cost | Maximum Guests | Published Tax |
|---|---|---|---|
| Breckenridge | Base $75-$175 by size, plus $756 per bedroom/studio. | 2 per bedroom + 4; studio: 4. | 12.275% |
| Silverthorne | Studio $150; 1BR $200; 2BR $250; 3BR $300; 4BR $350; 5BR $450; 6+BR $500. | 2 per bedroom + 2. | 16.375% |
| Frisco | $250; no proration. | 2 per bedroom + 4. | 15.725% |
| Dillon | $700; nonrefundable. | 2 per bedroom + 2. | 19.875% |
| Keystone | $285 for new and renewal licenses. | Houses, duplexes, townhomes: 2 per bedroom + 4, or 1 per 200 sq ft. Condos: 2 per bedroom + 2. Septic permit may cap lower; 20+ guests needs conditional use permit. | 8.375% |
BR = approved bedroom. Use occupancy approved for specific unit. Keystone treats studios as 1BR units. Tax rates are combined lodging rates; verify taxable charges.
| Town | Renewal / Expiration | Application Timing |
|---|---|---|
| Breckenridge | Licenses expire December 31. | Follow the expiration and renewal instructions on the actual license. |
| Silverthorne | Annual renewal; fall 2026 renewal application announced. | Confirm the town’s current submission deadline. |
| Frisco | Expires April 30. Current guide lists February 20-April 30 renewal. | Town website also contains older March 31 wording: confirm current notice and submit early. |
| Dillon | Expires May 31; not automatically renewed. | Complete renewal and payment before expiration. |
| Keystone | Expires September 30 of the year after issuance; renewal window September 1-30. | A license not renewed in the window expires and requires a new application. Ownership changes end the license. |
A four-bedroom home carries $3,024 in regulatory fees ($4 * $756), plus its base license charge. A qualifying primary residence rented no more than 21 days per year may be exempt from the regulatory fee, but still requires licensing.
Confirm which taxes each booking channel collects and which returns the owner or manager must file. Direct bookings require their own collection/remittance setup. Silverthorne identifies an additional 2.5% public improvement fee at certain Metro District establishments; verify applicability by address. In Keystone, the 6.375% sales tax is filed with the Colorado Department of Revenue and the 2% lodging tax is filed with the town.
Requirements to resolve before advertising, accepting bookings or purchasing.
| Town | Key Operating Requirements |
|---|---|
| Breckenridge | Smoke/CO detectors and fire extinguisher; on-site or town-designated parking; no sleeping in vehicles; trash and noise compliance. Occupancy limits apply. |
| Silverthorne | Self-compliance affidavit, responsible-agent authorization and Good Neighbor Guidelines. Duplex neighbor notice at least 7 days before application. License number in advertising; HOA approval where needed. |
| Frisco | 24/7 emergency contact, parking plan, life-safety affidavit and guest notice. Ads show license number and occupancy. No guest parking on landscaping or public streets/right-of-way under STR rules. |
| Dillon | Responsible agent responds within 60 minutes. Ads show license number and occupancy. Former STR-specific parking requirements/fees were discontinued; ordinary parking restrictions still apply. |
| Keystone | 24/7 responsible agent responds within one hour, with a direct phone number (no switchboard). Self-compliance affidavit; parking diagram; waste plan (garage or bear-proof storage). At least 1 and at most 5 outdoor vehicles; no parking on town roads; one parking pass per space for guests. One booking party at a time. Ads show license number, occupancy, bedrooms and parking limit. Fines $250/$750/$1,000. |
All five towns state that ordinary licenses are nontransferable. Breckenridge and Keystone allow narrowly defined family, trust, entity, inheritance, divorce and court-related exceptions; in Keystone the new owner must contact the town clerk within 30 days of transfer to qualify. In Breckenridge only, a buyer may request up to six months of temporary licensing to honor reservations existing at transfer; it is not permanent STR eligibility.
| Waitlist | Who Can Apply / Fee | Time After Invitation |
|---|---|---|
| Breckenridge | Current owner only; position is void on sale. | 14 business days |
| Frisco | Proof of ownership: $25 nonrefundable fee; owner/address changes lose place. | 14 days |
| Summit County | Owner applies personally after closing; $75 nonrefundable fee. | 30 days |
| Keystone | No waitlist; no cap at this time. | n/a |
This handout summarizes major licensing rules, not every building, fire, land-use or operating requirement. Violations can result in fines, suspension or revocation. Obtain property-specific confirmation from the licensing authority.
Outside town limits: Summit County uses its own Resort and Neighborhood overlays. Neighborhood Type II licenses are capped by basin and generally limited to 35 bookings per year (October 1-September 30), not 35 nights. Type I exceptions require qualifying residency/workforce arrangements. Resort licenses follow a separate pathway. Properties inside the Town of Keystone are no longer licensed by the county.
| County Basin | Type II Cap | Published Route |
|---|---|---|
| Lower Blue | 550 | Waitlist |
| Upper Blue | 590 | Waitlist |
| Snake River | 130 | Waitlist |
| Ten Mile | 20 | Not among current open waitlists |
County Type I exceptions are outside basin caps. Eligibility generally includes 9 months of residence and 30 hours/week of local employment; other qualifying categories exist. Check exact parcel/overlay and applicable exceptions.