Home › Blog › Vacation rental permit checklist for Archuleta County
The rules are easier to meet when you take them in order. This checklist follows the county permit from first question to day-to-day operation.
1. Confirm which rules apply
The county rules cover the unincorporated part of Archuleta County. Homes inside the Town of Pagosa Springs may have different requirements, so check with both the town and the county before you apply.
2. Check the home against the standards
Walk the home with the county checklist: detectors, extinguisher, bedroom egress, handrails and guardrails, and a bedroom count that holds up. The county inspects and gives you 30 days to fix items, but finding problems before you apply saves time.
3. Name the three roles
The application names an Applicant, who files and pays the fees, an Operator, who handles bookings, payments and guest communication, and an Emergency Contact who can be reached at any hour and lives within 30 minutes of the home. If any of these change, the county must hear about it within five business days.
4. Do not advertise or book yet
Advertising or accepting a booking before the permit is issued is a critical violation, and critical violations can mean denial, suspension or revocation. Permit fees are not refunded when a permit is denied or revoked.
5. Advertise exactly what is permitted
Put the permit number in every ad, never advertise more guests than the permit allows, and make sure the sleeping setup in the listing matches the permit.
6. Keep it clean and compliant
Remove trash after every stay, expect inspections and make sure guests follow county fire bans and stay off neighboring land. Unresolved fire-ban or trespass violations add up, and three in one permit period can mean revocation.
Getting help
We handle obtaining the county permit for our owners and can walk through what your home needs first. The county sets the fees, steps and renewals, so confirm current details with Archuleta County Planning. This post is general information, not legal advice.