Fort Collins, Colorado Short Term Rental Regulations

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Reviewed by Derick Hargrave

Last updated August 23, 2023

Fort Collins Short-Term Rental Regulations

Information is maintained by the community to provide helpful insights and links to local regulations, HostScouts does not provide legal or investment advice.

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  • Short Term City Rating
    5.9
  • Competition

    8.3
  • Real Estate Cost

    5.0
  • STR Regulations

    N/A
  • Seasonality

    4.8
  • Rental Rates

    5.3

Fort Collins, Colorado Quick Stats

Short-term rentals have gained a lot of traction in the last few years. The trends and statistics of this sector are constantly changing, and having access to accurate data is essential for making sound investment decisions.

Population
169,810
STR License Required
No
Tourist Season
County
Larimer
Airports
Cheyenne Regional Airport (CYS)
Denver International Airport (DEN)
Review our Fort Collins Colorado short-term rental analytics guide, including rates, property types and other metrics

Want to learn more about Fort Collins?

Hostscouts has you covered. Our guides for this city cover topics that can help you research cities across the US quickly and easily.

Check out our Fort Collins rental analytics guide if you're interested in data on the Fort Collins rental market.

City Activities

Review the popular activities that hosts include in their property positing in Fort Collins.

City Attractions

The most popular local and regional landmarks hosts usually include in their Airbnb or Vrbo property listings.

Fort Collins Rental Rates & Fees

Explore nightly rates that hosts list their properties and the average fees for pets and additional guests.

Property Types & Sizes

What are the most popular property sizes for rent? Research whether a 1, 2, or 3 bedroom best fits Fort Collins guests.

Interested in other Colorado cities?

Check out the Colorado Airbnb rules directory 

What makes Fort Collins a great place to invest?

  1. Fort Collins, Colorado is a vibrant college town located at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, offering a unique blend of outdoor recreation, cultural attractions, and modern amenities. With over 300 days of sunshine each year, visitors can enjoy the great outdoors and explore the city's many parks, lakes, and trails.
  2. One of the must-visit attractions in Fort Collins is the Horsetooth Reservoir, a beautiful mountain lake surrounded by stunning views of the foothills and mountains. Visitors can enjoy a variety of outdoor activities, including hiking, fishing, boating, and picnicking, and can even camp overnight at one of the many campsites.
  3. Fort Collins is also home to a vibrant cultural scene, with a variety of museums, theaters, and galleries that showcase the city's rich heritage and traditions. For example, the Fort Collins Museum of Discovery offers interactive exhibits and hands-on activities for visitors of all ages, and the Lincoln Center is a premier venue for performing arts and cultural events.
  4. For sports fans, Fort Collins is home to the Colorado State University Rams, offering a variety of collegiate sports and events throughout the year, including football, basketball, and volleyball.
  5. And for those seeking a bit of adventure, Fort Collins is just a short drive from a variety of exciting attractions, including the Rocky Mountain National Park, the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve, and the Pikes Peak Scenic Byway, offering breathtaking views and outdoor recreation opportunities.
  6. Whether you're looking for outdoor adventure, cultural experiences, or simply a relaxing getaway, Fort Collins, Colorado has something for everyone. With a variety of comfortable and affordable accommodation options, including hotels, resorts, and vacation rentals, visitors can easily find a place to stay during their visit to this vibrant and welcoming city.

Fort Collins Nearby Cities

Local Real Estate

How expensive is the real estate in Fort Collins?

The cost of real estate can vary widely depending on the location, size, and features of the property, as well as market conditions. The median home value in Fort Collins has decreased -3% over the past year, and the average price per square foot is $282, which is higher than the national average.

Median Sale Price

$570,338

-3% YoY

Median per Square Foot

$282

0% YoY

Average Monthly Rent

$1,948

7% YoY

Property Descriptions

The most common terms hosts include in their listings for Fort Collins, Colorado

Word Cloud for Fort Collins, Colorado Short Term Rentals

Common terms for Fort Collins short term rental listings.

When potential guests are scrolling through listings on Airbnb, they’re looking for certain essential information to help them decide if your property is the right fit for their needs. As a host, ensuring that your listing includes all the relevant information that guests will be looking for is vital.

Some of the must-have elements of a property description include:

  • Location: Guests will want to know where your property is located in relation to popular attractions, public transportation, and other points of interest.
  • Amenities: What amenities does your property offer? Be sure to list all features guests can access, such as a pool, hot tub, parking, etc.
  • Informative: The average listing in Fort Collins has a description approximately 1,748 words long. Make sure yours is long enough to describe your property but doesn't require your potential guest to read a novel.

After reviewing more than 620 listings in Fort Collins, we've consolidated the most common terms on the word cloud. The larger text represents a term that is used more often. The top ten mentioned terms are Fort Collins, Old Town, Place, Homes, Patio, Town Fort, Local, CSU, Beautiful, and Outdoor.

What are the most popular tourist activities in Fort Collins?

Whether renting a house, an apartment, or a room, you should include popular tourist activities in your posting. The most common choices mentioned on property listings in Fort Collins involve Hiking, Cycling, Adventure Activities, Rafting, and Swimming. When you write your listing, have a section with recommended activities near the property to give your guests an idea of what is available.

Hiking

Cycling

Adventure Activities

Rafting

Swimming

Rock Climbing

Museums

Mountain Climbing

Boating

Wildlife Viewing

City Centre

Paddle Boating

Local Attractions

What attractions do hosts highlight to guests?

There are quite a few popular attractions in Fort Collins, including Colorado State University, Old Town Square, Horsetooth Mountain Park, Boyd Lake State Park, and Horsetooth Reservoir. Below we've included the most popular local and regional landmarks hosts usually include in their Airbnb or Vrbo property listings. Many hosts like to show off lesser-known regional landmarks visitors might not have heard of.

Well Known Attraction

Colorado State University

Included on 75% of listings

Regional Landmark

Old Town Square

Included on 75% of listings

Regional Landmark

Horsetooth Mountain Park

Included on 75% of listings

Regional Landmark

UCHealth Poudre Valley Hospital

Included on 75% of listings

Regional Landmark

Foothills Mall

Included on 75% of listings

Regional Landmark

New Belgium Brewing Company Headquarters

Included on 75% of listings

Regional Landmark

Anheuser-Busch Brewery

Included on 73% of listings

Regional Landmark

Fort Collins Lincoln Center

Included on 72% of listings

Regional Landmark

Horsetooth Reservoir

Included on 72% of listings

Local Landmark

Fossil Creek Park

Included on 70% of listings

Regional Landmark

Boyd Lake State Park

Included on 70% of listings

Local Landmark

Canvas Stadium

Included on 69% of listings

What’s the weather like in Fort Collins, Colorado?

The weather is generally milder than the national average, with an average high temperature of around 63°, while the average low is about 39°. It has normal rainfall, averaging about 10 inches per year, compared to the national average of about 27 inches. Snowfall can be rather heavy, averaging less than 14 inches per year. The humidity levels in Fort Collins are generally lower than the national average, and the city has a mix of clouds and sunshine for most of the year.

Winter

December through February

21° Low 42° High

Precipitation
0.4"
Snowfall
6.8"
Muggy Days
0.0 days
Cloudiness
42%

Spring

March through May

38° Low 62° High

Precipitation
3.6"
Snowfall
4.2"
Muggy Days
0.0 days
Cloudiness
46%

Summer

June through August

57° Low 84° High

Precipitation
3.8"
Snowfall
0.0"
Muggy Days
0.0 days
Cloudiness
30%

Fall

September through November

39° Low 63° High

Precipitation
2.0"
Snowfall
3.2"
Muggy Days
0.0 days
Cloudiness
34%