Fairplay, Colorado Short Term Rental Regulations Guide for Airbnb hosts

Overview: STR Legality in Fairplay, CO

Yes, short-term rentals are allowed within the Town of Fairplay, Colorado, but are strictly regulated.

The Town operates under Ordinance No. 4, Series of 2022, which governs the permitting of STR units (e.g., VRBO units). This ordinance establishes a cap on the total number of permits available, limiting it to 6.5% of the Town's available housing units at the time of adoption, which equals 20 total permits. As of June 2025, 10 of these 20 licenses have been issued. New licenses are only granted as others are revoked, surrendered, or not renewed, or if additional housing units are added, increasing the available permits.

Important Jurisdictional Note: Properties serviced by a well and septic tank are not within the Town of Fairplay's STR jurisdiction. These properties fall under Park County regulations instead.

How to Start a Short-Term Rental Business in Fairplay

Verify Town Jurisdiction: Confirm your property is within Fairplay's town limits and not on well/septic (check with Town if unsure).
Check Permit Availability: Determine if a permit is available (currently 10 of 20 issued as of June 2025; availability changes).
Confirm Ownership: Only the property owner can apply for a permit and must provide proof of ownership.
Obtain Required Documents: Gather all necessary documents, permits, and licenses outlined below.
Submit Application: Submit a complete application to the Town of Fairplay, as detailed below. Applications are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.
Obtain Business License: Once the STR permit is approved, obtain the required Town of Fairplay Business License.
Comply with Ongoing Obligations: Fulfill all renewal, tax, and regulatory requirements.

Required Documents, Permits, Licenses, and Guidelines

You must obtain the following:

Town of Fairplay Short-Term Rental Permit Application Form (PDF): This is the core application. (Link)
Fairplay Application Checklists Including NWFPD List (PDF): This checklist includes required documents and specific local requirements. (Link)
Town of Fairplay Business License Application: Obtained after STR permit approval. (Link)
Lodging (Short-Term Rental) Tax Return Form (PDF): For reporting lodging taxes. (Link)
Lodging Tax Online Form: Online version for filing and payment. (Link)

Key Requirements Highlighted in the Checklist:

Proof of Ownership: Deed or equivalent.
Northwest Fire Protection District (NWFPD) Compliance: This is a specific local requirement within the Fairplay checklist.
Basic Life Safety: Compliance with smoke and carbon monoxide detector regulations.
Property Standards: Compliance with Fairplay building codes and any specific safety requirements outlined in the checklist or inspection.
Business License: A valid Town of Fairplay Business License is mandatory.

Specific Regulations for Short-Term Rentals

City of Fairplay Regulations

Permit Cap: A strict cap of 20 permits (6.5% of housing units at adoption).
License Allocation: Licenses issued first-come, first-served until the cap is reached. No waiting list.
Eligibility: Only the property owner may apply.
Application Completeness: Only complete applications are accepted.
Availability: Licenses become available only when an existing one is revoked, surrendered, not renewed, or the total number increases due to new housing units.
Jurisdiction: Only applies to properties served by municipal utilities (not well/septic).
Inspection: Safety inspections are part of the NWFPD requirements listed in the checklist.
Renewal: Separate renewal application required annually, including a "Renewal Affidavit of Prior Year's Rental History". (Link)
Ordinance: Governed by Ordinance No. 4, Series of 2022. (Link)

Park County Regulations (For Properties with Well/Septic)

Licensing Requirement: All STRs in unincorporated Park County must be licensed.
Application Process: Online application via Park County's portal. No paper applications accepted. (Link)
Application Fee: $605 (non-refundable if rejected or for reactivation after revocation).
Completeness: Only complete applications are accepted. Incomplete applications are auto-rejected.
Renewal Deadline: Renewal application and fee must be submitted at least 30 days before the license expires to avoid revocation. If revoked, a full application with the $605 fee is required to reactivate.
Required Documents (Extensive Checklist):
- Parcel/Property info.
- Recorded Deed (from Clerk & Recorder).
- Current Tax Receipt (zero balance from Treasurer).
- State Sales Tax License with the STR property address (from CO Dept. of Revenue).
- Septic documents or Certificate of Occupancy (CO) date.
- Detailed STR Floor Plans (all floors, room uses, doors, windows, smoke/CO detector locations).
- Owner/Contact information.
- Responsible Agent Form (mandatory).
- STR Affidavit (mandatory).
- Statement of Authority (if LLC - signed & notarized).
- Parking Plan (No parking on county roads!).
- Trash Removal Plan (Renters cannot pack garbage out!).
- Snow Removal Plan.
- Photo of Address Post (visible from both directions, meets driveway requirements).
Safety Inspections:
- Required if the original CO is older than 5 years.
- Required for renewals if there are 3+ complaints and/or emergency response calls.
- Detailed Fire & Safety Inspection Checklist is provided. (Link)
Ordinances: Governed by Ordinance No. 20-03 and Ordinance 21-01 (setting fees). (Link, Link)

State of Colorado Regulations

Sales Tax: STR operators must collect and remit applicable state sales taxes. This requires obtaining a Colorado State Sales Tax License with the rental property address listed. (Link)

Contact Information

For Properties WITHIN the Town of Fairplay (Municipal Utilities):

Town of Fairplay
Phone: 719-836-2622
Email: info@fairplayco.us
Address: 901 Main Street - P.O. Box 267, Fairplay, CO
Website: Fairplay Short-Term Rentals

For Properties OUTSIDE the Town of Fairplay (Well/Septic - Park County Unincorporated):

Park County Development Services - Short-Term Rental
Email: str@parkco.us
Phone: 719-836-2771
Fax: 719-836-3273
Address: 856 Castello Ave, P.O. Box 1598, Fairplay, CO 80440
Hours: Lobby Open Mon-Thu 7am-5pm
Website: Park County Short-Term Rentals
Online Application Portal: Park County STR Application

Source Links

Town of Fairplay: https://www.fairplayco.us/299/Short-Term-Rentals
Park County STRs: https://www.parkcountyco.gov/858/Short-Term-Rental
Park County STR Ordinance Review: https://www.parkcountyco.gov/919/Short-Term-Rental-Ordinance-Review (For future regulation context)
Colorado Sales Tax License: https://tax.colorado.gov/how-to-apply-for-a-colorado-sales-tax-license

What do Airbnb hosts actually earn in Fairplay?

Fairplay hosts earn a median $45,154/year with $294 ADR and 54% occupancy.

Top performers pull in $66,386+ per year.

See the full Fairplay market breakdown

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Ask the AI Advisor about Fairplay

Fairplay is a small high-altitude town in Park County, Colorado, home to roughly 700 residents who live amid the wide-open grasslands of the South Park basin. The community has a quiet, frontier-era character, with a short historic Main Street, weathered brick storefronts, and views that sweep toward the snow-streaked Mosquito Range. Best known as the town that gave its name to the famous South Park region, Fairplay also serves as a popular staging ground for hikers, anglers, and fourteener baggers heading into the surrounding mountains. It sits about 85 miles southwest of Denver, typically a drive of just under two hours via US Highway 285, which makes it a workable weekend escape from the Front Range while still feeling genuinely off the beaten path.

Just south of town, South Park City is a 4-acre open-air museum of more than thirty restored historic buildings filled with artifacts from the 1880s through the 1920s. The museum preserves a slice of South Park's mining and ranching past, with a church, a schoolhouse, a saloon, and an assay office all arranged in a walkable village setting. From downtown Fairplay, it is roughly a minute or two by car, making it an easy anchor stop for visitors passing through.

To the north, the Mosquito Range rises sharply and holds several of Colorado's famous "fourteeners," including Mount Democrat, Mount Lincoln, and Mount Bross, all accessible from trailheads just 15 to 20 minutes from town. Climbers use Fairplay as a base for these alpine starts, often pairing an early-morning summit with lunch back in town. The range also offers lower-elevation hiking and fall aspen viewing that draws leaf-peepers in late September.

Larger outdoor experiences lie a short drive away at Eleven Mile State Park, about 25 miles northeast of Fairplay, where an 11-mile reservoir draws anglers, sailors, kayakers, and campers. The neighboring Spinney Mountain Reservoir adds another angling-focused getaway, and both areas sit within the broader South Park recreational region. A bit farther north, the ski resort and historic mining town of Breckenridge is reachable in roughly 35 to 45 minutes, opening up winter sports, shopping, and dining for guests who want a turnkey mountain-town day trip without committing to its higher lodging rates.

Together, these offerings make Fairplay a compelling base for short-term rentals. The town pairs small-town character and a noticeably lower cost of entry with quick access to alpine summits, blue-ribbon reservoirs, and one of Colorado's most visited ski destinations, giving owners a year-round calendar of guests drawn to high-country adventure.