City Watch
Short-term rental rules in Aspen, CO
How Aspen regulates short-term rentals: the rules that apply, their sources, and pending changes.
Rules here limit which homes may operate as short-term rentals, how many, where, or for how many nights a year.
- Three-tier permit system — Ord. 15 (2021)
- Tier 2 (Classic, non-owner-occupied) capped, with per-zone cap and waitlist
- Zoning-based Tier 3 exemption (lodge-zoned)
- Annual renewal occupancy parking limits
Based on: Aspen Municipal Code Title 26 STR licensing, Ordinance No. 15 (Series 2021), eff 2022
Summary of the rule
Three STR permit types; STR-C ('Classic', non-owner-occupied eligible) capped per ZONE district (e.g. R/MF=190, R-6=81, R-15=47, MU=39, down to 1; unlimited in Lodge/CC/C-1 overlays; prohibited in A/C/OS/P/WP/PUB). When a zone's cap is reached, new STR-C applicants go on a first-come WAITLIST (NOT a lottery).
View the ordinance source ↗✓ Verified
Last reviewed Sep 8, 2026 · Sources · Report an error
Pending legislation
Monitoring Aspen · system last checked Oct 13, 2026
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City Watch tracks changes from public sources — council agendas, state bills, local news — not a complete legal compendium.
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City Watch provides good-faith summaries of publicly available information as of the review date shown. Rules, enforcement, and permit availability can change, and summaries may contain errors or omissions. Ratings describe the general regulatory environment; they do not establish whether a particular property or stay is permitted. This is general information, not legal advice. Before buying, listing, or hosting, verify applicable requirements with the responsible authorities and review any HOA, condominium, deed, or lease restrictions.