The short version
- Three jurisdictions: the Town of Winter Park, the Town of Fraser, and unincorporated Grand County each register rentals differently.
- Winter Park registrations are $150 per owner plus a town business license, and all expire September 30.
- Grand County charges $100 per occupant of maximum advertised occupancy, with a 16-person cap.
- Lodging in Winter Park is taxed at 13.2%; in Fraser, local taxes are collected by the state.
Who licenses your rental?
Many “Winter Park, CO” addresses are actually in Fraser or unincorporated Grand County. The town limits, not the mailing address, decide which registration you need and which taxes apply.
Town of Winter Park
- $150 registration per owner, plus a town business license. Check the current business license fee with the town.
- All registrations expire September 30 each year.
- An East Grand Fire life-safety certificate is required at each renewal. Processing can take up to 25 business days, so start early.
- Your registration number must appear in every listing.
Town of Fraser
- $150 yearly registration, plus $350 per bedroom (from October 1, 2025).
- A $40 business license that runs June 1 to May 31.
- A 24/7 contact, with problems attended to within 1.5 hours, and the permit number on every listing.
- An East Grand Fire inspection certificate from the last 12 months.
- Random or complaint-based inspections, with seven business days’ notice.
Unincorporated Grand County
- Permit fee of $100 per occupant, based on maximum advertised occupancy (10 guests = $1,000), with a maximum of 16.
- Annual renewal and an annual fire inspection in the East Grand, Grand and Grand Lake fire districts.
- Two full-time Grand County residents as 24-hour contacts.
- Proof of bear-proof trash, a parking plan and liability insurance.
Lodging tax
Winter Park is a home-rule town that collects its own taxes. Fraser’s local taxes are collected by the state: 2.9% state, 1.3% county and a 5.0% town sales tax, plus a town lodging tax. Fraser lists that lodging tax as 2% plus a 0.2% increase from January 1, 2025, so confirm the current rate before you quote direct bookings.
| Tax | Winter Park | Paid to |
|---|---|---|
| Colorado state sales tax | 2.9% | State |
| Grand County | 1.3% | State |
| Town sales tax | 4.0% | Town of Winter Park |
| Town accommodation tax | 3.0% | Town of Winter Park |
| Town transit and trails tax | 2.0% | Town of Winter Park |
| Total | 13.2% |
Winter Park town returns are due by the 20th of the following month. Rates as published by the town for 2026; confirm the rate for your address.
Who files the returns?
- Airbnb and Vrbo have collected and remitted Winter Park town taxes since February 1, 2020. You still need a business license, and the town may still expect a return, so ask the town.
- Fraser’s and the county’s taxes are state-administered, so platforms collect them. Fraser requires a booking receipt within 60 days of registration showing town taxes were collected.
- On direct bookings, you collect and file everything yourself.
What it means for your books
- Record the gross booking, not the payout, with platform fees, cleaning and taxes booked separately.
- Calendar September 30 for Winter Park, and start the fire certificate early.
- Budget per-bedroom or per-occupant fees as fixed yearly costs. In Fraser and the county they scale with the size of the home.
- Keep platform-collected tax apart from direct-booking tax you owe.
- Plan for the seasons. Winter carries the year, so cover spring and fall with a Cash Map.
Kellcat keeps mountain rental books remotely from Littleton, property by property. See mountain short-term rental bookkeeping, start with the STR Financial Starter Kit, or book a free Discovery Call on Google Meet. Own a business in town too? Kellcat keeps monthly books for businesses of all kinds, remotely.
Why mountain towns? I’m a mountain lover. I ski, I mountain bike, and I’d rather be outdoors in the mountains than almost anywhere. Helping owners here keep clear books is my kind of work. — Brian
This guide is general information, not tax or legal advice. Rules, caps, fees and rates change often in mountain towns, so confirm current requirements with your town or county and your CPA.
Sources
- Grand County: Short Term Rentals
- Town of Winter Park: Sales Tax
- Town of Winter Park: Good Neighbor / Short-Term Rentals
- Town of Fraser: Short-Term Rental
- Colorado DOR: Jurisdiction Codes and Rates, July–Dec 2026
