Security-Widefield, CO
Short-Term Rental Management in Security-Widefield, CO
Security-Widefield sits in the southern El Paso County corridor between Colorado Springs and Fountain, ringed by the region's military installations, and it is an unincorporated community, which matters a lot for short-term rentals. Because it is in the unincorporated county rather than inside a city, the county's lighter rules apply: no STR permit and no cap for a primary home, with only accessory-unit zoning approval and the no-event-venue limit as real constraints. Demand here leans heavily on Fort Carson, Peterson Space Force Base, and Schriever, which drive steady reporting-in, PCS, and TDY stays. Sun Mountain Stays is the founder-led local operator that confirms your exact jurisdiction and runs the full operation: guest communications, in-house cleaning and turnovers, dynamic pricing, and honest owner reporting.
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, and we start by confirming that your parcel really is in the unincorporated county rather than just inside a nearby city line.
Guest
- Guest screening
- 24/7 guest communication
- Review management
- Emergency response
Property
- In-house cleaning & turnovers
- Vendor coordination
- Restocking oversight
- Quality control inspections
Revenue
- Dynamic pricing (market data-driven)
- Listing optimization
- Military & Front Range demand strategy
- Channel strategy
Compliance & owner
- Jurisdiction check for your exact address
- County zoning guidance where an accessory unit is involved
- Colorado sales & lodging tax handling
- Owner reporting & transparency
Where we operate
Security, Widefield, and the southern corridor.
Security-Widefield spans established southern-corridor neighborhoods along Fountain Creek, close to the region's military installations and the drive into Colorado Springs. We manage short-term rentals across the community and the surrounding unincorporated county.
- SecurityEstablished community west of Highway 85/87, minutes from Fort Carson gates
- WidefieldResidential neighborhoods around Widefield and the Fountain Creek corridor
- Stratmoor / Stratmoor HillsOlder southern-Springs-adjacent pockets; confirm whether a parcel is city or county
- Fountain Creek corridorBottomland and trail access along the creek through the southern corridor
- Fort Carson vicinityValue-priced inventory near the Fort Carson gates and the southern military belt
- Fountain (neighboring city)Just south with its OWN annual STR license; county rules do not apply inside its limits
Security-Widefield is unincorporated, but the City of Fountain and the City of Colorado Springs are both close, and their rules differ from the county's. We confirm which jurisdiction governs your exact parcel first.
Why the southern corridor is different
Value-priced inventory in the middle of the military belt.
Security-Widefield's edge is location and value. It sits close to Fort Carson, Peterson Space Force Base, and Schriever, which anchor a base of demand that is less seasonal than pure leisure travel: families reporting in, service members on TDY, and house-hunting stays during PCS season. Inventory here is generally more affordable than the tourist cores near the Broadmoor or Manitou Springs, which can make the entry math friendlier for a new owner. Paired with the county's light rulebook, that combination is a real, honest advantage. The one thing to get right up front is jurisdiction, because the City of Fountain and the City of Colorado Springs both border this corridor and run their own stricter rules. We confirm which set governs your parcel before you list.
- Close to Fort Carson, Peterson Space Force Base, and Schriever for steady, less-seasonal demand
- PCS, TDY, and reporting-in stays often run mid-length and year-round, not just summer weekends
- Generally more affordable inventory than the Broadmoor or Manitou tourist cores
- Unincorporated county rulebook: no permit and no cap for a primary structure
- We confirm county versus Fountain versus Colorado Springs before anything goes live
STR permits & the county rules
Unincorporated county rules apply in Security-Widefield.
Because Security-Widefield is an unincorporated community rather than an incorporated city, the El Paso County rules apply, and they are refreshingly light. Here is the honest summary, and the two real limits that still apply.
Security-Widefield is an unincorporated El Paso County community, so the county's short-term rental rules apply rather than a city ordinance. The county states it does not have a codified short-term rental ordinance and there are no specific permit requirements for short-term rental of a principal structure, so no STR permit or license is required for a primary home, and there is no cap and no owner-occupancy requirement. Two real limits apply: renting an accessory structure (a guest house, ADU, or detached unit) requires county zoning approval, and operating the property as a commercial event venue (weddings, retreats) is prohibited. All rentals must comply with the county Land Development Code, and Colorado sales tax applies to stays under 30 days. The nearby cities of Fountain and Colorado Springs have their own, stricter rules, so confirming jurisdiction first is essential in this corridor.
- No county STR permit or license is required to rent your principal structure short-term
- No cap on the number of rentals and no owner-occupancy requirement for the primary structure
- Renting an accessory structure (ADU, guest house, detached unit) does require county zoning approval
- Operating as a commercial event venue (weddings, retreats) is prohibited
- All rentals must comply with the El Paso County Land Development Code (setbacks, building and fire code, septic capacity)
- Colorado sales tax applies to stays under 30 days; confirm the exact combined rate for your address with the Colorado Department of Revenue
- The City of Fountain (its own annual STR license) and Colorado Springs (a city permit) are close by; confirm you are actually in the county first
This is a general summary based on publicly available information and is not legal advice. County and city rules, tax rates, and zoning can change. Always verify current requirements with El Paso County, the City of Fountain, or the City of Colorado Springs for your specific parcel before listing or buying with STR intent.
Local market
What can a Security-Widefield STR actually earn?
Revenue varies significantly by property type, location, seasonality, and how well the listing is managed. AirDNA, Rabbu, and AirROI all publish southern-El-Paso-County benchmarks for ADR and occupancy, but the southern corridor is value-priced relative to the tourist cores, and a benchmark is not your address. The distinctive demand driver here is the military: Fort Carson, Peterson Space Force Base, and Schriever generate steady reporting-in, house-hunting, PCS, and TDY stays that behave differently from leisure travel, often mid-length and year-round. The real number still depends on pricing strategy, listing quality, and operational execution. Book a walkthrough and we will pull current data for your specific parcel.
Common questions
Security-Widefield short-term rentals, answered straight.
Do I need a permit to run a short-term rental in Security-Widefield?
For your principal structure, no. Security-Widefield is unincorporated El Paso County, and the county states it does not have a codified short-term rental ordinance and has no specific permit requirements for short-term rental of a principal structure. There is no cap and no owner-occupancy requirement. Two real limits still apply: renting an accessory structure such as an ADU or guest house requires county zoning approval, and running the property as a commercial event venue is prohibited. All rentals must still comply with the county Land Development Code, and Colorado sales tax applies to stays under 30 days.
Is Security-Widefield part of Colorado Springs or Fountain?
No. Security-Widefield is an unincorporated community, not an incorporated city, even though it sits between Colorado Springs and Fountain and shares services and ZIP codes with them. That distinction is exactly why the county's lighter rules apply here instead of a city ordinance. Because the boundaries interleave in this corridor, we confirm your exact parcel is in the county, and not just inside a nearby city line, before you list.
How does military demand affect a short-term rental here?
Meaningfully, and in a way that differs from leisure markets. Fort Carson, Peterson Space Force Base, and Schriever generate year-round demand for reporting-in families, TDY assignments, and house-hunting during PCS season. Those stays are often mid-length and less tied to summer tourism, which can smooth occupancy across the calendar. We factor that demand pattern into pricing and minimum-stay strategy for southern-corridor properties.
Can I rent out a guest house or ADU on my property?
You can, but it is one of the two real limits in the unincorporated county: renting an accessory structure such as an ADU, guest house, or detached unit requires county zoning approval, unlike your principal structure, which does not. We help owners understand what their zoning allows before they invest in setting up a detached unit for short-term rental use.
What taxes apply to a Security-Widefield short-term rental?
Colorado sales tax applies to stays under 30 days, at a combined rate that includes state and county components for an unincorporated address. Major platforms collect and remit some taxes automatically, but the host stays responsible for anything a platform does not cover. Confirm the exact current combined rate for your specific address with the Colorado Department of Revenue rather than trust an old figure.
Can you manage my property if I live out of state?
Yes, and many southern-corridor owners are out-of-state or are service members who have since moved. We handle everything on the ground: guest communications, in-house turnovers, maintenance coordination, and owner reporting, plus the jurisdiction check and any county zoning questions specific to your parcel. You get transparency through regular updates without needing to be present.
How do I get started?
Book a free walkthrough. We will review your property (or assess it remotely for out-of-state owners), confirm it is in the unincorporated county rather than Fountain or Colorado Springs, 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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