Custer County adopts moratorium on new short‑term rental permits through Dec. 31, 2025

The Custer County Board of County Commissioners on March 27 adopted Resolution 25‑24, placing a moratorium on the consideration and approval of new short‑term rental permits in unincorporated Custer County through Dec. 31, 2025.

County planning staff and the planning commission recommended the pause while state regulations and local zoning language are reviewed. Dorothy (staff member) told the board the moratorium is intended to allow the county to align its rules with forthcoming state requirements for septic systems and to address how short‑term rentals are regulated locally: “the planning commission has determined that it is necessary to further regulate and control short term rental properties to protect the neighborhoods and the rural nature of our county,” she said.

The resolution exempts properties located solely within the town limits of Silver Cliff and Westcliffe and allows properties that already hold a valid short‑term rental permit to continue operating and to apply for renewal under existing rules. The moratorium takes effect immediately and will automatically expire on Dec. 31, 2025, unless the board takes further action.

Public commenters raised enforcement and timing concerns. Joy Anderson (resident) asked why the county would impose a moratorium before the state finalizes any new legislation: “Why not just wait till the state actually approves the new legislation and then we can do the moratorium?” she asked during the meeting. A resident who attended recent planning commission meetings told commissioners the county’s records likely undercount short‑term rentals, saying data received by local tourism shows more rentals operating in unincorporated areas than the county has permits for.

County staff and commissioners said planning and zoning needs time to revise the county zoning resolution to respond both to the state’s pending changes (which staff said are expected to affect septic‑system sizing and permit criteria) and to clarify local rules about permit consideration and approvals. Commissioners also said the moratorium will give planning staff time to update enforcement approaches and to pursue properties operating without permits.

The board voted to adopt the resolution during the meeting; the moratorium was adopted as presented and will remain in effect through Dec. 31, 2025, unless the board acts to change that date.