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Routt County staff: notices sent to hosts; Airbnb lagging on takedowns
Summary
Routt County planning staff said they are sending notices to short‑term rental hosts first, then asking platforms to remove noncompliant listings; Hipcamp and VRBO have complied but Airbnb is invoking a 30‑day language loophole, county officials said.
Routt County planning staff told county commissioners on Jan. 13 that enforcement of the county’s short‑term rental ordinance is underway and that platforms — notably Hipcamp and VRBO — have removed at least some listings after county notice. Linnea, a planning staff member, said the county’s procedure requires a notice first to the host, then to the advertising platform if the host does not remove the listing.
“We are making progress and they are sending out notices,” Linnea said, describing a two‑step process that gives hosts an opportunity to remove listings and request a hearing before the county refers the listing to the platform. She said the county initially achieved a takedown on Hipcamp and that VRBO has cooperated.
Commissioners pressed staff about Airbnb’s response. Commissioner Corrigan and other commissioners said Airbnb is relying on a different reading of the ordinance to avoid removing some listings. “There’s a technicality being invoked by an individual there at Airbnb saying… it must be rented for, at least 30 days,” Commissioner Corrigan said. “So therefore, there’s not a violation that would cause us to have to, take it down.”
Planning staff described the county’s view that the ordinance is “very clear” and that listings not in compliance must be removed. Staff said the county has had a “hiccup” with Airbnb’s cooperation but continues to send evidence and notices to platforms and hosts.
Why it matters: The county’s enforcement approach implements local ordinance requirements and tracks a state statute that commissioners cited as requiring platforms to remove noncompliant listings. Commissioners signaled impatience with platforms that delay takedowns and discussed potential next steps to compel compliance.
What commissioners asked and next steps: Commissioners asked whether platforms have taken down listings and pressed staff on escalating enforcement where platforms do not comply. Staff said they are continuing to gather evidence, issue host notices (seven‑day window described in staff procedure), and then request platform takedowns. They confirmed Hipcamp and VRBO takedowns but said Airbnb has raised a narrow interpretation to avoid removal.
