As part of unincorporated Summit County, Copper Mountain follows short-term rental (STR) regulations set forth by the Summit County Board of County Commissioners. Property owners looking to operate short-term rentals in Copper Mountain must apply for an STR license through Summit County, designate a Responsible Agent, and adhere to established occupancy limits.
Recognizing Copper Mountain’s long-standing role as a vacation destination, Summit County has designated the entire area within the Resort Overlay Zone. This classification exempts Copper Mountain from the county’s nine-month moratorium on new short-term rental licenses, which applies to other areas within unincorporated Summit County. As a result, Summit County continues to accept, evaluate, and approve new Copper Mountain STR license applications without restriction. Additionally, there is no cap on the total number of STR licenses issued in Copper Mountain.
Once approved, STR owners in Copper Mountain benefit from unrestricted rental availability. Unlike other parts of Summit County that impose rental night limits, properties within the Resort Overlay Zone—including Copper Mountain—may be rented out for an unlimited number of nights per calendar year.
For those considering purchasing property in Copper Mountain for short-term rental use, understanding these regulations is essential. With no current caps on licenses or rental nights, Copper Mountain remains one of the most flexible areas for STR operations in Summit County.
The towns of Blue River, Breckenridge, Dillon, Frisco, and Silverthorne each have clearly defined boundaries, and their short-term rental (STR) regulations apply only to properties within their respective limits. However, many homes near these towns are actually located in unincorporated Summit County, where STR rules can vary significantly depending on the property's exact location. Because of this, it's crucial to determine which local government oversees a specific property before proceeding with short-term rental plans.
How to Check a Property’s Jurisdiction
If you're unsure whether a property falls within a town’s limits or is part of unincorporated Summit County, you can easily verify it using the Summit County GIS tool:
Visit the Summit County GIS website.
Accept the County disclaimer.
Enter the property address in the search bar.
When the property details appear, look at the bottom-left corner of the page under "Jurisdiction."
This section will confirm whether the property follows the STR rules of Blue River, Breckenridge, Dillon, Frisco, or Silverthorne, or if it is instead governed by unincorporated Summit County regulations.
Understanding the correct jurisdiction ensures compliance with the appropriate STR rules and avoids potential legal issues.
Any Keystone Property Rental Less Than 30 Days
As of February 8, 2024, Keystone became a newly incorporated municipality, no longer under Summit County's jurisdiction. Therefore, the Town of Keystone's regulations apply. On June 25, 2024, the Keystone Town Council passed Ordinance 2024-O-07, which outlines the town’s Short-Term Rental (STR) regulations.
Section C(e) of the ordinance defines a short-term rental in Keystone as the rental of any dwelling, accessory dwelling unit, or part of a dwelling for less than 30 days. The ordinance emphasizes that short-term rentals are considered an accessory use to the primary function of the property. This applies to property owners who use platforms like Airbnb or VRBO to rent their homes to visitors for periods shorter than 30 days. If you rent your Keystone property for any period under 30 consecutive days, you are required to obtain a short-term rental license from the Town of Keystone. The Town has 30 days to decide on your application, per Section D(5). Once approved, all relevant short-term rental rules must be followed.
However, if you only plan to rent your property for 30 days or more, this ordinance does not apply. Long-term rentals, generally defined as those lasting 30 days or more, are not subject to short-term rental licensing. In fact, long-term rentals are encouraged to help address local housing needs, with incentives offered by Summit County and Breckenridge for leasing to local workers. No new regulations are currently planned for rentals over 30 days.
Copper Mountain, as part of unincorporated Summit County, follows short-term rental (STR) regulations set by the Summit County Board of County Commissioners (BoCC). Over the years, Summit County has introduced various STR policies, including licensing requirements, occupancy limits, and zoning designations.
All Copper Mountain short-term rental property owners must obtain an STR license. Along with this requirement, they must:
Designate a Responsible Agent available 24/7 to address complaints within one hour.
Follow Occupancy Limits based on unit type and size (detailed below).
Adhere to Local Regulations as set forth by the BoCC.
There is no cap on the number of STR licenses issued in Copper Mountain.
The BoCC has established specific occupancy limits:
Single-family, Duplex & Townhome Units
Option A: 2 persons per bedroom + 4 additional occupants
Option B: 1 person per 200 sq. ft. of living space
(Whichever option allows for a greater occupancy applies.)
Condominium Units
Option A: Same as above, but if the building has interior egress components under 44 inches wide and lacks a sprinkler system, only 2 additional occupants are allowed.
Option B: 1 person per 200 sq. ft. of living space
(Whichever allows for a greater occupancy applies.)
Units with Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems (OWTS)
Occupancy is limited to the capacity established on the OWTS permit, generally designed for 2 persons per bedroom.
In November 2021, Summit County introduced two STR zoning designations:
Neighborhood Overlay Zone (Does not apply to Copper Mountain)
Resort Overlay Zone (Applies to Copper Mountain, Tiger Run RV Resort, SkiWatch, and 4 O'Clock neighborhoods in Breckenridge)
Copper Mountain is entirely within the Resort Overlay Zone, meaning:
The 9-month STR moratorium (May 24, 2022 – Feb. 23, 2023) does not apply to Copper Mountain.
STRs in this zone operate under the Resort Short-Term Rental License, with no limits on rental nights.
The Resort Zone STR License fee for Copper Mountain is $250.
Existing Copper Mountain STR licenses (as of Dec. 16, 2021) were automatically converted to Resort STR Licenses upon renewal in September 2022.
Copper Mountain remains one of the most flexible areas for short-term rentals in Summit County, offering unlimited rental nights and unrestricted license availability. If you are considering an STR investment in Copper Mountain, these regulations ensure a stable environment for rental operations.
Whether working with buyers or sellers, Ivete Liliensteins provides outstanding professionalism in making her clients’ real estate dreams a reality. Contact her today to start your home searching journey!