Mineral County runs a lodging tax that funds local tourism

If you rent out a cabin or room in Mineral County for short stays, you step into a small but real piece of local tax structure. Colorado lets counties charge a lodging tax on short-term rentals, generally stays of less than 30 days, on top of regular sales tax. Mineral County does this and puts the money into a Tourism/Lodging Tax Fund.

The fund is not just a line item. The county and chamber invite local groups to apply for a share of it each year to promote tourism, the industry that now drives much of Creede’s economy. So the tax that a visitor pays on a night’s stay loops back into events and marketing that bring more visitors.

For an owner, the practical point is that lodging is taxed differently from a long-term lease. You may need to register, collect the tax from guests, and remit it. The exact rates and rules can change, so this is something to confirm rather than assume, especially before listing a property for nightly rental.

To see how the fund works and who administers it, start with Mineral County’s Tourism/Lodging Tax Fund page. For how lodging taxes are collected statewide, the Colorado Department of Revenue’s accommodations guidance explains the structure.