Colorado Springs, CO
Short-Term Rental Management in Colorado Springs, CO
Sun Mountain Stays is a founder-led, full-service short-term rental management company operating in Colorado Springs, CO. We handle everything, guest communications, in-house cleaning and turnovers, dynamic pricing, listing optimization, and owner reporting, so you earn more and deal with less. Unlike national platforms that treat your property as one of thousands, we keep our portfolio intentionally small. If you own an Airbnb or vacation rental near Fort Carson, the Air Force Academy, Broadmoor, or anywhere across the Springs, we're the local operator built to make it work.
See common questionsWhat's included
Full-service management, not just the listing.
We run the guest experience, the property operations, the revenue strategy, and the owner relationship. You stay informed; we stay on top of everything else.
Guest
- Guest screening
- 24/7 guest communication
- Review management
- Emergency response
Property
- In-house cleaning & turnovers
- Vendor coordination
- Restocking oversight
- Quality control inspections
- Claims support
Revenue
- Dynamic pricing (market data-driven)
- Listing optimization
- Platform management
- Channel strategy
Owner
- Launch & onboarding
- Owner communication & reporting
- Strategic guidance
- Full transparency
Neighborhoods served
We know Colorado Springs, all of it.
From the historic west side to the military corridor to the mountain suburbs, we manage short-term rentals across the full Colorado Springs metro.
- Old Colorado CityHistoric district with strong weekend leisure demand
- Manitou SpringsHigh foot traffic, proximity to Pikes Peak
- Downtown Colorado SpringsYear-round urban demand
- Black ForestWooded retreat properties with rural appeal
- BriargateNorth Springs suburban corridor
- BroadmoorPremium resort-adjacent properties
- Cheyenne MountainScenic foothills, proximity to Air Force base
- FountainSouthern corridor, close to Fort Carson
- FalconEastern plains, value-priced STR inventory
- Security-WidefieldMilitary-adjacent neighborhood near Peterson & Fort Carson
- MonumentUpscale north-end properties including Monument Mansion
- Palmer LakeSmall lakeside mountain community north of the Springs
Just outside this list? Reach out, we're selective about expansion but serve the full Front Range.
Military & year-round demand
Colorado Springs: one of the most stable STR markets in the Mountain West.
Colorado Springs hosts five major military installations, Fort Carson, Peterson Space Force Base, Schriever Space Force Base, Cheyenne Mountain Space Force Station, and the United States Air Force Academy. This generates consistent year-round visitor demand: families relocating for PCS moves, contractors and consultants on temporary assignments, and guests attending base graduations and events. Combined with leisure traffic to Pikes Peak, Garden of the Gods, and Manitou Springs, the Springs offers a demand mix that smooths the seasonal peaks-and-valleys common in pure leisure markets. We understand this local demand pattern and use it in every pricing and availability decision we make for Colorado Springs properties.
- Fort Carson, one of the Army's largest installations; constant rotation of personnel and family relocations
- Peterson Space Force Base, Space Operations Command headquarters
- Schriever Space Force Base, active installation east of the Springs
- Cheyenne Mountain Space Force Station, iconic NORAD facility with consistent TDY visitor demand
- United States Air Force Academy, graduations, sporting events, and parent/visitor weekends drive bookings
STR permits & regulations
Colorado Springs short-term rental permit, what owners need to know.
Colorado Springs requires a city-issued Short-Term Rental permit before listing on Airbnb, VRBO, or any platform. Here's the summary, always confirm current requirements at the official city portal.
Colorado Springs operates a permit-based STR system administered through the city's Accela portal. Annual permit fees have been approximately $124.95 for a primary or non-primary residence (verify the current fee schedule at the city portal before applying). Rentals must comply with the city's zoning code and any applicable HOA rules. Platforms are required to collect and remit lodgers' tax on your behalf.
- Annual STR permit required, apply and renew through the city's Accela online portal
- Permit fee: approximately $124.95/year (verify current fee at coloradosprings.gov/str)
- Both primary-residence and non-primary STR permits available (check current availability by zone)
- Hosted and un-hosted rentals are both permitted in qualifying zones
- City lodgers' tax applies, major platforms typically collect and remit automatically
- Property must meet life-safety requirements (smoke detectors, CO detectors, egress, etc.)
- Permit number must be displayed on all listing platforms
This is a general summary based on publicly available information and is not legal advice. Permit requirements, fees, and zoning rules can change. Always verify current rules at coloradosprings.gov or with a local attorney before listing your property.
Local market
What can a Colorado Springs STR actually earn?
Revenue varies significantly by property type, location, seasonality, and how well the listing is managed. AirDNA and Rabbu both publish Colorado Springs market data showing typical ADR and occupancy benchmarks, but a poorly managed property in a strong market will still underperform. The right pricing strategy, listing quality, and operational execution matter as much as the market itself. Book a walkthrough and we'll pull current data for your specific address.
What Colorado Springs owners say
Real owners. Real properties.
Working with Sun Mountain Stays has been exceptional. They treat Monument Mansion as their own, the attention to detail, the guest experience, and the communication have been exactly what we needed from a true management partner.
Bison Peak Lodge at Puma Hills has never performed better. Sun Mountain Stays handles everything with professionalism and care. I trust them completely with my property and my guests.
Common questions
Colorado Springs STR management, answered.
Do I need a permit to rent my Colorado Springs property on Airbnb?
Yes. Colorado Springs requires a Short-Term Rental permit issued through the city's Accela portal. The annual fee has been approximately $124.95 (verify the current fee at coloradosprings.gov). The permit number must appear on your listing. We can walk you through the permit process as part of our onboarding.
What does Sun Mountain Stays charge to manage a Colorado Springs STR?
We charge a single management percentage of revenue, no hidden fees, no nickel-and-diming. Our incentives are aligned with yours: we earn more when you earn more. Book a walkthrough for a property-specific conversation about fees and projected returns.
Do you handle cleaning and turnovers in Colorado Springs?
Yes, in-house. We don't outsource cleaning and hope for the best. Our team handles turnovers directly, which means consistent quality control, faster response to issues, and no third-party scheduling gaps. This is one of our core differentiators.
I live out of state. Can you manage my Colorado Springs property remotely?
Absolutely, most of our owners are hands-off by choice or necessity. We handle everything on-the-ground: guest communications, turnovers, maintenance coordination, and owner reporting. You get transparency via regular updates without needing to be present.
Does military traffic near Fort Carson and the Air Force Academy really affect STR demand?
Yes, meaningfully. Fort Carson, Peterson SFB, Schriever SFB, Cheyenne Mountain, and the Air Force Academy collectively drive significant year-round demand, PCS families, TDY personnel, contractors, and event guests. This military demand layer helps smooth seasonality and creates consistent mid-week bookings that pure leisure markets often lack.
How is Sun Mountain Stays different from a national STR management company?
We're founder-led and intentionally small. Our portfolio is capped so that every property receives real attention, not a call center script. We're local to Colorado Springs and Denver, which means we know the neighborhoods, the regulations, and the market dynamics from the inside.
What platforms do you list on?
We manage listings across all major platforms (Airbnb, VRBO, Booking.com) and apply channel strategy based on what performs for your property type and location. We don't lock you into a single platform.
How do I get started?
Book a free walkthrough. We'll visit your property (or review it remotely for out-of-state owners), pull current market data for your specific address, and give you an honest assessment of what it can earn under professional management.
Book your walkthrough
Let's see if we're the right fit.
Tell us about your property, even if you already have a manager. If we're a match, we'll reach out to book your free, on-site walkthrough.
237 STRs operated73 clientsNo long lock-in
“One of the best decisions I made for my property.” – Daniel, Colorado Springs
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