Short-term Rentals

Three STR Permit Types

Applicants must choose from three STR permit options. The permit types are differentiated based on the permittee’s residency, the number of rental nights allowed, and whether the property is a lodge or condo-hotel as defined in the Land Use Code. Each type of STR permit has different regulatory and financial requirements.  

• Lodging Exempt (STR-LE) Permit
  • Available to managers of lodging and condo-hotel properties which meet the definition of “lodge” or “condo-hotel” per Ordinance No. 9, Series 2022.
  • No annual limit on the number of nights per year the STR may operate.
  • Not limited by number in any zone district where STRs are a permitted use.
  • Only one permit is required for all units under management.
  • Batch filing of taxes is allowed.
  • Business licenses required for the qualified owner’s representative as well as the owner of each property covered under the single permit. 
  • Individual owners of units at lodge or condo-hotel properties are not eligible for the Lodging Exempt Permit and must apply for a Classic or Owner-Occupied Permit.

• Owner-Occupied (STR-OO) Permit
  • Available to title property owners who reside in their City of Aspen residential property as their primary residence.
  • Limited to 120 STR rental nights per year.
  • Not limited by number in any zone district where STRs are a permitted use.
  • Property owner name is required on the application; LLCs without a verifiable name of a natural person will not be accepted.
  • Permittee must submit two pieces of documentation indicating that the STR address is the permittee’s primary residence. Acceptable documents include valid driver's license, valid motor vehicle registration, current voter registration, or federal or state tax return from the current filing period. Documents MUST be issued to the STR permittee at the STR address listed on the application. 
  • Business licenses required for the permittee and qualified owner’s representative. 
• Classic (STR-C)Permit
  • Available to non-owner occupied OR owner-occupied residential properties.
  • No annual limit on the number of nights per year the STR may operate.
  • Limited by number in certain residential zone districts; new applicants will be subject to a waitlist in zones with capped numbers of available STR-C Permits.
  • Property owner name required on the application; LLCs without a verifiable name of a natural person will not be accepted.
  • Business licenses required for the permittee and qualified owner’s representative.

How to Apply for a New STR Permit

Thinking of applying for an STR permit? Please review the STR Program Guidelines and Chapter 26.530 prior to submitting an application for a full understanding of program compliance requirements.  

New STR permits may be applied for at any time. To apply for a new permit, please follow the instructions below.  

1. Visit MUNIRevs and click the “New User – Register” button. Follow the detailed instructions to set up your MUNIRevs account. If you already have a MUNIRevs account, skip to step 2. 
2. Log in to MUNIRevs as an “Existing User” with your account credentials. Select “I have a new business and need to apply for a license.”

2. Enter the STR address in the “Business Name” field. Select the STR permit you’d like to apply for from the “Business Type” dropdown; the choices are STR-C, STR-OO, or STR-LE. Choose your role from the dropdown; the choices are Accountant, Employee, Operator, Other, or Owner.
3. Fill out the permit application form in MUNIRevs. Upload the required supplemental documents to the application as requested by the application form. See below for supplemental documents. If you need to save and exit the application to complete the documents, you may do so by clicking the blue “Save and Return to Business Center” button at the bottom left of the page. 

5. Pay the permit fee in MUNIRevs using a credit card or bank account.
6. Applications are reviewed by City staff within 15 business days of the permit fee payment date. 
7. Upon review of a compliant application packet, applicants will be contacted with information about next steps, which could include a public notice requirement, a waitlist, or permit issuance, depending on the permit type.

IMPORTANT: An STR-specific business license is required in conjunction with every STR permit. Once a STR permit application is submitted, City staff will assign the appropriate business license application to the account. For tax or business license questions, reach out to the Finance Department.

Required Documents for STR Permit Applications

The documents below may be required to be submitted with an STR permit application in MUNIRevs. Please reference the STR Program Guidelines (PDF) to determine which documents are required with your STR permit application type.  

• HOA Compliance Affidavit and Letter of Approval (PDF) 
• Self-Inspection Checklist and Affidavit (PDF)
• Lodging Exempt Affidavit (PDF)
• Public Notice Affidavit (PDF)*
• Two Forms of Proof of Primary Residence

* Renewal applications are not subject to noticing requirements. 

Annual STR permit fees are as follows:

• $148/unit for STR-LE Permits.
• $394 for STR-C and STR-OO Permits.

Please note that STR permit fees are non-refundable.

STR permit fees are in addition to the annual cost of an STR business license ($150/year) obtained from the City of Aspen Finance Department. STR business licensees must file Sales, Lodging, and STR Excise Taxes directly with the City of Aspen Finance Department each month. Taxes are remitted online through the MUNIRevs portal.

• Sales Tax information.       
• Lodging and STR Excise Tax information.

STR permits expire at the end of each year. It is the permittee’s responsibility to submit an updated renewal application for their permit each year if they desire to continue operating their STR business beyond the permit’s expiration date.   

Applications to renew 2025 STR permits for the 2026 calendar year must be submitted in MUNIRevs from November 15, 2025 to January 14, 2026 at 5pm MST.  

If an STR permit renewal application is not submitted within the renewal timeframe above, the permit will be terminated. If the permittee for any such account wishes to obtain an STR permit for 2026 after the renewal period ends, the permittee will be required to submit a new STR permit application. New STR permit applications are subject to a public notice and waitlists for STR-C permits if the property is in a capped zone. Contact strs@aspen.gov for more information or assistance with submitting a new permit application. 

TAX FILING REQUIREMENT FOR ANNUAL STR PERMIT RENEWAL

Per Chapter 26.530.030, STRs must be occupied by a short-term renter a minimum of once per year, as shown in tax filings, to be eligible for renewal. Permits with one (1) year of zero tax filings from the date of permit issuance or renewal will be considered abandoned.  Long-term rentals of 30 or more days do not qualify as occupation by a short-term renter under this requirement. 

The deadline to file 2025 STR tax revenue is January 20, 2026 at 5pm MST.  All permits with $0 tax revenue in 2025 will be ineligible for 2026 renewal and will be terminated.

• HOA Affidavit
• Self-Inspection Affidavit
• Lodging Exempt Affidavit
• Public Notice Affidavit
• Good Neighbor Guide
• STR Program Guidelines

New STR-C permits are issued in limited quantities in certain “capped” zone districts. If the allotted permits for a new applicant’s zone district have already been issued, the application may be placed on a waitlist for an available STR-C permit. 

To be eligible for a position on the STR-C waitlist, applicants must apply for a new STR-C permit. Applicants will be waitlisted by the date and time their compliant application was received. A nonrefundable permit fee of $394 must be paid to secure a position on the STR-C waitlist. Applicants will be notified of waitlist status after their application has been reviewed by City staff.

Should an STR-C permit become available, City staff will email the address associated with the permit application of the top position on the waitlist. The applicant will have 14 days to respond to the notification and confirm that they will accept the permit; failure to respond will result in removal of the applicant from the waitlist, and the available permit will be offered to the applicant in the next position on the waitlist.

Zones with STR-C Permit Caps

Note: There is no limit to the number of STR-C permits in these zone districts: Commercial (C-1), Commercial Core (CC), Lodge (L), Commercial Lodge (CL), Lodge Overlay (LP), Lodge Preservation Overlay (LO).

Use the STR Map (GIS) to determine which zone district a property falls within.

STR-C Permit Availability Summary

The STR-C Permit Availability Summary details quantities of STR-C permits issued, pending, and available in capped zone districts. Zones with zero or negative numbers of available STR-C permits may have waitlists. If a waitlist for STR-C permits exists for a zone district, it can be accessed at the bottom of this page.

• STR-C Permit Availability Summary (PDF)

STR-C Permit Waitlists by Zone District

To see the waitlist for STR-C permits in a certain zone district, click on the links below. If a zone is not listed below, there was no waitlist for the zone at the time of the last website update.

• Zone R-6 (PDF)
• Zone R-15 (PDF)
• Zone R-15B (PDF)
• Zone R-30 (PDF)
• Zone R/MF (PDF)

DISCLAIMER: Waitlist files on this website do not update in real time and may not reflect the most current list of applications for a particular zone. Waitlists are for informational purposes only. 

• Chapter 26.530 Short Term Rental Regulations—details the regulations that regulate STR Program operation.
• How to Check Permit Status or Print License—assists customers with checking the status of their STR permit or business license, as well as instructions on how to print a copy of their permit or license for display in the STR unit.