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Aspen vs. Vail: short-term-rental rules
Both are in Colorado, but the rules differ. Vail is currently the more permissive of the two for short-term rentals (Allowed with registration), while Aspen is tighter (Restricted).
| Rule | Aspen | Vail |
|---|---|---|
| STR status | Restricted | Allowed with registration |
| City license / registration | Short-Term Rental (STR) Permit; STR Business License; Primary-residence proof (STR-Owner-Occupied only); Minimum annual rental activity for renewal; STR/Lodging tax account and monthly filing | Short-Term Rental (STR) License; Designated Local Representative (24/7, within 60 minutes); Liability Insurance (minimum $1,000,000); Fire & Life Safety Inspection; Town Sales & Lodging Tax Collection; STR Self-Compliance Affidavit; Adjoining Owner Notice (duplex units) |
| Primary residence | Not required | No primary-residence/owner-occupancy requirement in Chapter 14. A 'PRINCIPAL PLACE OF RESIDENCE' term is defined in § 4-14-2 but is not tied to any licensing eligibility requirement in the current codified text.; verified |
| Minimum stay | No set minimum | No set minimum |
| Lodging tax | ~69.1% total | See detail |
| Enforcement | Not specified | Not specified |
For most hosts, Vail is the easier of the two to operate in today, but confirm the specifics — rules change, and the "Restricted" status in Aspen may still allow rentals under the right conditions. Open each full record for the cited, dated details.
Full Aspen rules Full Vail rules
Frequently asked questions
Is short-term renting easier in Aspen or Vail?
Vail is currently the more permissive (Allowed with registration) versus Aspen (Restricted). Verify against each city's full record, since rules change.
Do both Aspen and Vail require a license or registration?
Aspen: yes — Short-Term Rental (STR) Permit; STR Business License; Primary-residence proof (STR-Owner-Occupied only); Minimum annual rental activity for renewal; STR/Lodging tax account and monthly filing. Vail: yes — Short-Term Rental (STR) License; Designated Local Representative (24/7, within 60 minutes); Liability Insurance (minimum $1,000,000); Fire & Life Safety Inspection; Town Sales & Lodging Tax Collection; STR Self-Compliance Affidavit; Adjoining Owner Notice (duplex units).
Informational summary of publicly available sources; not legal advice. Verify against each jurisdiction's official sources.