Pitkin County staff propose lower short‑term rental fees, new owner‑occupied discount and enforcement steps

Pitkin County staff presented a package of changes to the county’s short‑term rental (STR) licensing program on Jan. 21, recommending lower annual fees based on 2024 assessed total actual value, a new discounted category for owner‑occupied "partial unit" listings, strengthened enforcement and administrative code changes including longer public notice.

The policy team said the updated fee table would replace the 2022 assessed values now used in licensing calculations and reduce the percentage multipliers applied to total actual value. Alex Sanchez, community development analyst, said staff propose dropping the highest multiplier to 0.04% and the lowest to 0.02% while using the assessor’s 2024 total actual value as the base. "The total actual value is really gonna be the number we recommend," Sanchez said, noting the change aims to account for land plus improvements and to avoid skewing fees by high land prices alone.

Staff said the change, modeled on 2024 assessments, would reduce fees for almost every STR licensee while still covering program budget needs. Jeanette Mizio, STR administrator, told commissioners the proposed structure "covers our budget and leaves a little bit of room" in case of future fluctuations in assessed values.

Why it matters

County staff emphasized the proposal is intended to strike a balance: lower annual fees for many licensees, protect the program’s operating budget, and add clearer enforcement tools and administrative rules. Commissioners agreed to move…