Short-term rentals in Durango

Durango is a real town before it is a resort: a college, a lively historic downtown and a working river, with the narrow gauge railroad to Silverton, Purgatory ski area to the north and Mesa Verde National Park to the west. That spread of attractions gives it a longer season than a pure ski town, with summer the strongest stretch and winter carried by skiers. Rentals range from Victorian homes near Main Avenue to cabins and condos along the highway toward Purgatory.

City limits: permits and tightly capped neighborhoods

Within the City of Durango, renting for 1 to 29 days requires a limited use permit from Community Development, a business license and registration for lodgers' and sales taxes. Vacation rentals are allowed in the central business district, mixed-use zones, some planned developments and the two Established Neighborhoods around downtown, and prohibited in several subdivisions. The Established Neighborhoods carry small fixed caps, and the city states that most capped zones have reached their limits, so applicants join a waitlist. On any street segment in those neighborhoods, a second rental needs Planning Commission approval and a third is not allowed. Permits lapse when the property is sold, and parking, occupancy and noise standards apply.

La Plata County

Much of the demand for cabins and larger homes lies outside city limits, in unincorporated La Plata County, which applies its own requirements. Rural subdivisions also often carry covenants on rentals, so check both for the specific parcel before relying on income.

Taxes

Guests pay state, county and city sales taxes and the city lodgers' tax. Platforms handle the state-administered taxes, while city lodgers' tax filings, and anything booked directly, may remain your job.

The question to ask before the offer

In the Established Neighborhoods, the useful question is not whether vacation rentals are allowed but what the street segment already carries: a second rental on that segment needs Planning Commission approval, and a third is not allowed at all. Since a permit lapses when the property is sold and the city reports most capped zones at their limit, a house marketed as a proven rental may be selling a history rather than a future. Ask for the permit, its zone and the waitlist position before agreeing a price.

Our advice

In town, look first at commercial and mixed-use zones, where a permit is realistic, and never pay extra for a permit that will not survive the closing. For a cabin or mountain home, the county code and HOA documents decide. Wildfire season can disrupt summer travel and affects insurance, so ask about both before buying. We study every request and tell you honestly whether and how we can help.