Teller County approves first reading of ordinance to license and limit short‑term rentals

The Board of County Commissioners of Teller County approved the first reading of Ordinance 23 on Aug. 6, authorizing publication and moving the measure toward a second reading and potential adoption. County Attorney Paul Hurcombe read the ordinance into the record and asked the board to approve it with several non‑substantive edits; commissioners voted to approve the motion and to publish as required by state law.

The ordinance would license STRs in unincorporated Teller County and attach operational requirements intended to protect life, health and infrastructure. Key provisions include a nontransferable license limited to one license per property, capacity tied to the design of on‑site wastewater treatment systems (OWTS), a prohibition on using accessory dwelling units (ADUs) or guest houses as STR units, and a requirement that every licensed STR register with the county’s emergency notification system (the draft currently references “Everbridge” but the board directed the text be changed to allow a designated emergency notification service). The draft sets an initial application fee of $250 and an annual license fee of $750.

The ordinance establishes a 60‑day grace period after the effective date during which existing operators may apply for licenses without being subject to the 10% cap in their subdivision or quadrant. The board also directed edits to clarify that inspections generally would not be routine prelicensure or annual checks but that an inspection would be required prior to the first license renewal. County staff and the attorney agreed to correct several drafting issues, including publication language and cross‑references before the second reading scheduled tentatively for Sept. 10.

“After the first reading, it requires publication, and the courier is the official newspaper,” County Attorney Paul Hurcombe said in explaining the statutory process for ordinance adoption and publication. The clerk recorded a unanimous roll‑call vote in favor of the motion for the first reading.