Short Term Rentals

Current Restrictions on Short-Term Vacation Rentals due to COVID-19

With confirmed community spread of the COVID-19 virus in Summit County, all lodging businesses, including hotels, motels, timeshares and short-term rentals (e.g. Airbnb, VRBO, etc.) are required to close by 12 noon, Thursday, March 19, 2020.

It is a violation of the Amended and Restated Public Health Order dated March 17, 2020 for guests to stay past 12 noon on Thursday, March 19, 2020, in a short-term lodging unit.

This restriction currently is in effect through April 30, 2020, but is subject to change. Failure to comply with the Public Health Order is subject to penalties including fines up to $5,000, up to 18 months of jail time, and revocation of the short-term rental permit.

If you are interested in converting your short-term rental property into a long-term rental you can directly contact the Family & Intercultural Resource Center (FIRC) 970-423-5146 and inquire about their Housing Works Initiative.

If you are interested in renting your property for periods of less than 30 consecutive days, you qualify as an operating short term rental (STR) in the Town of Frisco.

Who Needs a Short Term Rental License?

Anyone renting their Frisco property, or seeking to rent a property in Frisco, for less than a consecutive thirty-day period should be aware of the town’s requirements for short-term rentals. These requirements apply regardless of how the properties are marketed – through a management company, online such as VRBO and Airbnb, newspaper or word of mouth.

The application process requires the following documents:

• Self-Compliance Affidavit (Life Safety/Renter’s Information Notice) – this form must be notarized
• Responsible Agent Agreement – this form must be completed even if applicant is named as Responsible Agent
• Parking Plan – Indicate location and number of parking spaces dedicated to your unit and available to your guests on either an aerial photograph (Google Maps is a great resource) or a cell phone photograph
• Lawful Presence Affidavit – only required for individuals applying as sole proprietors (file taxes with their social security number), not LLC or S-Corp. If you have an LLC or S-Corp, please provide a signed letter indicating that you are renting under this status.
• Proof of Premise – signed agreement between property owner and licensee applicant. For example – Property manager applying on behalf of a property owner must provide proof that they are authorized to rent the unit on behalf of the owner.

You must have the following financial and rental information ready to complete the application process:

If you have not remitted Frisco sales and lodging taxes in the past, you must have the following rental history and financial information from January 2017 – present, in order to complete the application process. If you have been remitting sales and lodging tax under the previous process and business license, then please just put zeros in each field, as you should not be charged for sales and lodging tax twice.

• Monthly total taxable sales
• Number of nights occupied per month
• Number of nights available per month
• Monthly average nightly rate

Payment and Fees

• STR license application fees are $125.00.
  • If you hold a current 2019 Town of Frisco Business/Sales Tax license, the STR license application fee will be $50.00.

Paying Taxes

All STRs are subject to state, county, special district and town sales tax and the town lodging tax.

The total tax to be collected is 10.725%.

– 2.9% State of Colorado sales tax
– 2.0% Summit County sales tax
– 0.75% Summit County mass transit tax (Summit Stage)
– 0.725% Special District (Summit County Housing Authority) sales tax
– 2.0% Town of Frisco sales tax
– 2.35%Town of Frisco lodging tax

The 2.0% Town of Frisco sales tax and 2.35% Town of Frisco lodging tax (4.35% total) should be remitted directly to the Town of Frisco through the Town of Frisco’s Host Compliance service. Town of Frisco sales tax and lodging tax are due by the 20th of every month.

Using a Vacation Rental Site Like VRBO?

Booking sites like VRBO and AirBnB do NOT collect Town of Frisco sales and lodging taxes. To collect Town of Frisco tax from your guests, you will need to visit the support page for the booking site that you use to rent your unit and search for “additional payment request”.

State Taxes with Booking Sites

On October 1, 2019 booking sites such as VRBO and AirBnB are now collecting and remitting taxes on behalf of homeowners directly to the State of Colorado. These tax collections only cover the state, county and special district taxes for a total of 6.375%. Short term rental owners are still required to individually collect and remit 2% sales tax and 2.35% lodging tax (4.35% total) directly to the Town of Frisco.

Currently Using Paper Returns or Xpress Bill Pay?

Beginning January 2020, ALL short term rental properties will file tax returns using the Host Compliance site instead of paper returns or online through Xpress Bill Pay.

Through the remainder of 2019, everyone filing with paper or through Xpress Bill Pay may file using these same methods, BUT they must also file through Frisco’s Host Compliance service and enter $0.00 for their total sales for that month.

Staff Assistance

Staff is available to answer questions and assist with the application process by appointment only. Please email to make an appointment.