By John Shepard
Special to The SUN
Short-term rental of dwelling units — single-family homes, condominiums, townhomes — will be permitted in Archuleta County beginning Oct. 1 with a vacation rental permit from the Archuleta County Planning Department.
The Archuleta County Board of County Commissioners legalized short-term rentals in July after several public hearings. The board established development standards for a vacation rental, including a local owner/representative to respond to any complaints, maximum occupancy based on the number of bedrooms and on-site parking, a current permit for homes on a septic system, registration for local sales and lodging taxes, and notice to property owners associations and neighbors. Permits will be renewed each calendar year.
Property owners currently offering short-term rentals of 30 days or less should contact the Planning Department to schedule a pre-application conference, which is required before completing a vacation rental application.
Information, including complete copies of the Archuleta County Land Use Regulations, is available on the Archuleta County website, www.archuletacounty.org.
