Sun Mountain Stays
Guides & Resources
Guides, Reports & Resources for Colorado STR Owners
Everything we know about running short-term rentals on the Front Range, in one place: our market report, the military-demand playbook, answer-first owner guides, STR rules for every area we serve, and the questions we hear most. Written by Jake at Sun Mountain Stays, no invented stats, no recycled national averages. Official sources cited, verify current rules at city sites before acting.
Start here
Featured · Market Report
The 2026 Front Range STR Report
First-party Colorado Springs comp data on the short-term rental market: real ADR and occupancy for 3 to 5 bedroom homes, the counter-seasonal military demand floor, and how the numbers move across the year. Sourced and hedged, no recycled national averages.
- ~$240
- ADR, 3 to 5 BR
- ~65%
- occupancy
- 52 to 87%
- seasonal swing
Military Rentals
The demand that wears a uniform
How Fort Carson, the Air Force Academy, and Peterson Space Force Base drive a counter-seasonal occupancy floor, and how we turn it into bookings.
FAQ
Owner questions, answered straight
Fees, jurisdiction, taxes, and what full-service management actually involves. Plain answers, no hype, sourced where it matters.
Owner Guides
STR Regulations · Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs Short-Term Rental Regulations & Permits (2026)
Permit fees (~$124.95/yr), the Accela portal, owner-occupancy rules, and zoning requirements, sourced from coloradosprings.gov/str. Everything a local or out-of-state owner needs before listing.
STR Revenue · Colorado Springs
How Much Can Your Colorado Springs Airbnb Actually Make?
ADR, occupancy, seasonality, and the military-demand floor explained. No invented numbers, we point you to AirDNA, Rabbu, and AirROI, plus the Sun Mountain Stays Revenue Estimator.
STR Feasibility · Colorado Springs
Is Your Colorado Springs Home a Good Short-Term Rental?
The zoning test that decides eligibility (owner-occupied vs. non-owner-occupied), the real $124.95 permit cost, and what actually drives performance once a property qualifies. Sourced from coloradosprings.gov/str.
Owner Decisions · Colorado Springs
Airbnb vs. Long-Term Rental in Colorado Springs: An Honest Comparison
Permit requirements, the 30-day tax exemption, income stability, and Colorado's security deposit law, compared honestly. No hype, real trade-offs sourced from city tax code and C.R.S. 38-12-103.
STR Taxes · Colorado
Short-Term Rental Taxes in Colorado: State, County, and City, Explained
The 2.9% state sales tax, Colorado Springs' 8.2% combined rate, and the city's Lodgers and Automobile Rental Tax, broken down and cited. Sourced from tax.colorado.gov, coloradosprings.gov, and Airbnb's own tax pages.
STR rules by area
Every market we serve has its own jurisdiction and its own rules. Each area guide summarizes the local requirement and cites the official source. Not sure which one governs your parcel? Start with the El Paso County rules map.
Colorado Springs & neighborhoods
Tri-Lakes & the north end
County, east & south
Teller County
Sun Mountain Stays
Questions about your specific property?
Jake manages short-term rentals in Colorado Springs. Book a free walkthrough to get a property-specific revenue estimate and straight answers about what management actually involves.
Book a free walkthrough