Woodland Park, CO
Short-Term Rental Management in Woodland Park, CO
Woodland Park is a mountain city on the west side of Pikes Peak, and it heavily restricts short-term rentals. We will be straight with you about that. In residential zones, a short-term rental must be the owner's primary residence; non-owner-occupied rentals are allowed only in commercial zones. That rules out the typical whole-home investment STR in a residential neighborhood, and there is no grandfathering. But for the properties that can legally operate, owner-occupied homes and compliant or commercial-zone rentals, the demand is real: the Pikes Peak west side, Cripple Creek, the Rampart Range, and Mueller State Park draw visitors year-round. Sun Mountain Stays is the founder-led local operator that runs those properties well, and tells owners the truth about the rule before they buy.
See common questionsWhat's included
Full-service management for a compliant Woodland Park rental.
A restricted market means the properties that can operate need to run right. We handle the guest experience, the property, the revenue strategy, and the owner relationship so a compliant Woodland Park rental performs the way it should.
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
- Destination-demand strategy
- Channel strategy
Compliance & owner
- Permit & annual business-license renewals
- Lodging-tax handling
- Owner reporting & transparency
- Honest guidance on the owner-occupancy rule
Where we operate
Woodland Park and the Teller County high country.
Woodland Park sits at altitude on the west flank of Pikes Peak, and location shapes both the guest draw and which zone your property falls in. We manage compliant short-term rentals across the town and the surrounding Teller County area.
- Downtown Woodland ParkWalkable core with shops and dining; commercial zoning worth confirming for STR use
- SunnywoodEstablished residential neighborhood; owner-occupied hosts only
- TamaracResidential area near town; owner-occupancy rule applies
- Paradise EstatesLarger-lot mountain homes with views; residential owner-occupied only
- Rampart Range areaClose to Rampart Reservoir and trailheads; strong outdoor-recreation demand
- DivideNearby, unincorporated Teller County west of town; different rules apply, we will read your location
Not sure which zone your Woodland Park property is in, or whether it can legally operate? Reach out. We will read your specific address and zoning honestly before anything else.
Why Woodland Park is different
The rule is strict. For a compliant property, that is the moat.
Woodland Park's owner-occupancy rule means the market is limited, and we will not pretend otherwise. But the alpine destination demand is real for the properties that can operate. The west face of Pikes Peak, Cripple Creek's casinos and history, the Rampart Range trails and reservoir, and Mueller State Park all pull steady visitor traffic to this side of the mountain. Because residential supply is capped by the rule and non-owner-occupied rentals are confined to commercial zones, a compliant, well-run Woodland Park rental competes against a small, fixed pool rather than an open flood of listings. We serve owner-occupied hosts and compliant or commercial-zone properties, we run them to a standard that earns the reviews and repeat demand, and we tell owners the truth about the rule before they buy.
- Owner-occupied hosts get a professional operation without giving up living in their home
- Year-round west-side demand: Pikes Peak, Cripple Creek, Rampart Range, Mueller State Park
- The owner-occupancy rule keeps residential supply tight, so compliant rentals face a small field
- We tell you honestly whether a property can legally operate before you buy or list
STR permits & the owner-occupancy rule
The honest truth about Woodland Park short-term rental rules.
Most sites will not tell you this plainly, so we will. Woodland Park heavily restricts short-term rentals, and it is in Teller County, a separate market from Colorado Springs. Here is the honest summary; always confirm current rules and your zoning with the city.
Woodland Park heavily restricts short-term rentals, and it is in Teller County, a separate market west of Pikes Peak. Under voter-approved Ordinance 1469, a short-term rental in a residential zone must be the owner's primary residence; non-owner-occupied rentals are allowed only in commercial zones, which effectively bars the typical whole-home investment rental in residential neighborhoods. There is no grandfathering for previously non-owner-occupied rentals. Every legal short-term rental needs a Planning Department permit plus an annual business license (about $35), and the city collects sales and lodging tax totaling 8.70%. The rule survived a legal challenge dismissed in April 2025 and the city is actively enforcing it.
- In residential zones, a short-term rental must be the owner's primary residence (Ordinance 1469)
- Non-owner-occupied rentals are allowed only in commercial zones, an effective ban for typical residential investors
- No grandfathering: previously non-owner-occupied rentals were not renewed after 2024
- Requires a Planning Department permit plus an annual city business license (about $35 per year)
- City sales and lodging tax totals 8.70% (3.00% sales plus 5.70% lodging)
- The ordinance survived a court challenge (dismissed April 2025) and the city is actively enforcing it
- Woodland Park is in Teller County, a separate jurisdiction from Colorado Springs and El Paso County
This is a general summary based on publicly available information and is not legal advice. City rules, fees, and tax rates can change, and enforcement is active. Always verify current requirements and your property's zoning with the City of Woodland Park before listing or buying with STR intent.
Local market
Restricted supply, real alpine demand.
Woodland Park is a genuine mountain destination: it is the west-side gateway to Pikes Peak, minutes from the Rampart Range and Rampart Reservoir, a short drive to Mueller State Park, and the road into historic Cripple Creek. That draws visitors across the seasons. Because the city's owner-occupancy rule keeps residential supply tight, the compliant rentals that can operate face a limited field. Published tools like AirDNA, Rabbu, and AirROI show Woodland Park and Teller County benchmarks, but revenue still varies by property, zoning, location, and how well the rental is managed. We pull current data for your specific address, and confirm your property can legally operate, before we ever project a number.
Common questions
Woodland Park short-term rentals, answered straight.
Can I run a non-owner-occupied investment STR in Woodland Park?
In a residential zone, no. Under voter-approved Ordinance 1469, a short-term rental in a residential zone must be the owner's primary residence. Non-owner-occupied rentals are allowed only in commercial zones, which effectively bars the typical whole-home investment rental in a residential neighborhood. There is also no grandfathering: previously non-owner-occupied rentals were not renewed after 2024. If you are considering a purchase with STR intent, confirm the zoning and current rules with the City of Woodland Park first, and we are glad to help you read it honestly.
Can I short-term rent my Woodland Park home if I live in it?
Often yes, and that is exactly who the residential rule allows. In residential zones, a short-term rental must be the owner's primary residence, so owner-occupied hosts are the core of who can legally operate. You still need a Planning Department permit plus an annual city business license (about $35 per year), and the city collects sales and lodging tax totaling 8.70%. We manage the full operation and keep those renewals on time.
Do you manage existing compliant Woodland Park rentals?
Yes, that is exactly who we serve here: owner-occupied hosts and properties in commercial zones or otherwise already compliant with Ordinance 1469. We run the full operation, guests, in-house turnovers, dynamic pricing, and owner reporting, and we keep the permit and annual business-license renewals current so nothing lapses.
How is Woodland Park different from Colorado Springs for STRs?
They are separate cities in separate counties with very different rules. Woodland Park is in Teller County, on the west side of Pikes Peak, and heavily restricts short-term rentals: residential STRs must be owner-occupied and non-owner-occupied rentals are confined to commercial zones. Colorado Springs is in El Paso County and runs a permit system that allows both primary and, in some zones, non-primary rentals. If your property is in Woodland Park or unincorporated Teller County, the Colorado Springs rules do not apply.
Is Divide or unincorporated Teller County the same as Woodland Park?
No. Divide and other unincorporated pockets near Woodland Park fall under Teller County rather than the City of Woodland Park, so different rules apply. We will read your specific address and point you to the right jurisdiction before you make any plans.
Is a Woodland Park short-term rental still worth it given the rule?
For a property that can legally operate, often yes. The owner-occupancy rule keeps residential supply tight, and the west-side demand from Pikes Peak, Cripple Creek, the Rampart Range, and Mueller State Park is real and year-round. The value is in operating a compliant rental well, not in trying to run a residential investment STR the rules do not allow.
How do I confirm the current Woodland Park rules and my zoning?
Contact the City of Woodland Park Planning Department or check the Short-Term Rental Resource Center at woodlandpark.gov. Rules, fees, tax rates, and enforcement can change, and the city is actively enforcing the ordinance, so we always point owners to the source rather than guess.
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Let's see if we're the right fit.
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237 STRs operated73 clientsNo long lock-in
“One of the best decisions I made for my property.” – Daniel, Colorado Springs
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