1. Community Engagement Process

Countywide Outreach Approach

A structured, multi-meeting engagement process was conducted from May–August 2025, reaching all major regions of Teller County:

• Florissant

• Divide

• Four Mile

• Cripple Creek

• Woodland Park

• Online survey and comment portal

Over six total workshops were held across the county, each designed to:

• Provide a clear overview of STR issues and policy tools

• Collect detailed input through comment cards, round-robin discussions, and facilitated dialogue

• Document localized concerns such as water, wildfire evacuation, infrastructure limits, and neighborhood conflicts

Additional outreach included:

• Conversations with County Commissioners, planning staff, and first responders

• Coordination with Environmental Health, water and sanitation districts, and fire authorities

• A countywide public survey addressing housing affordability, infrastructure strain, public safety, and community character

Top Themes Heard Countywide

Community input consistently highlighted the following:

Concerns

• Impact on housing availability and affordability, especially workforce housing

• Noise, nuisance, and parking conflicts in residential neighborhoods

• Water and septic capacity limitations, especially in rural subdivisions

• Wildfire evacuation risks and lack of clear emergency protocols for visitors

• Lack of enforcement, lack of local contact response, and inconsistent complaint resolution

• Perceived inequity in who follows rules and who does not

• STRs contributing to loss of neighborhood cohesion in certain areas

Benefits Identified

• STRs support tourism-based economic activity

• Provide opportunities for property owners to supplement income

• Contribute to local businesses, restaurants, and recreation activity

• Allow families to visit and recreate in Teller County

• Offer a pathway for some residents to afford to keep their homes

2. Major Issues Identified Across Teller County

Infrastructure & Environmental Capacity

• Many subdivisions rely on individual wells and septic systems not designed for high-turnover occupancy

• Water districts expressed concern about overuse during peak periods

• Several fire districts emphasized evacuation constraints in steep or limited-access areas

Public Safety & Enforcement

• Lack of coordinated county enforcement

• Difficulty responding when operators do not have a local contact within reachable distance

• Need for clear occupancy limits and fire safety inspections

Housing Supply

• STR demand affects long-term rental availability, particularly for service workers, teachers, and public sector workers

• Concern that STR proliferation may displace potential long-term housing

Community Character

• Residents expressed desire to maintain quiet, rural, and residential quality of life

• Need for clear rules supporting good actors and reducing nuisance problems from bad actors

3. Policy Recommendations

A. Licensing Structure

Create a tiered licensing system with annual renewal:

1. Owner-occupied STR

2. Non-owner-occupied STR

3. STR in multi-unit or commercial zoning

4. Large-capacity STRs requiring additional safety review

B. Local Responsible Party Requirement

• A local contact within 30 minutes (not a call center) capable of responding to complaints, emergencies, and county enforcement.

C. Good Neighbor Program

• Require operators to provide guests with a Good Neighbor Guide including:

  • Local fire restrictions

  • Water conservation expectations

  • Wildlife interaction guidelines

  • Noise, parking, and trash protocols

D. Health & Safety Requirements

• Fire safety inspections for new licenses and periodic renewals

• Clear occupancy limits, determined by septic capacity or water district guidance

• 24/7 emergency contact information posted inside rental

E. Density & Location Tools

Options presented for county consideration included:

• Caps on STRs per subdivision or zoning district

• Minimum distance between STRs (to avoid clustering)

• Distinct rules for high-risk wildfire zones or evacuation bottlenecks

F. Septic, Well, and Infrastructure Standards

• Verification of septic capacity and well permitting status

• Requirement for maintenance records for older systems

• Coordination with water districts for STR approval in areas with drought or capacity restraints

G. Enforcement & Administration

• Creation of an STR Advisory Board representing:

  • STR owners

  • Residents

  • Fire/emergency services

  • Environmental Health

  • Tourism/hospitality

• Establishment of:

  • Complaint tracking and escalation protocols

  • A system for fines, suspension, and revocation

  • Annual license audits

H. Data Tools

• County STR registry

• Use of monitoring software to track:

  • Active rentals

  • Compliance

  • Complaints

  • Tax remittance

4. Deliverables Provided to Teller County

Community Engagement Deliverables:

• Full meeting summaries for all public workshops

• Comment card matrices

• Community concerns and benefits matrices

• STR survey structure and results integration

Policy Deliverables:

• Comprehensive STR policy framework

• Licensing, safety, and enforcement recommendations

• Administrative flowchart and implementation steps

• Comparative analysis of surrounding county policies

• Infrastructure and environmental capacity considerations

• Draft ordinance structure recommendations

5. Overall Outcome

The final recommendations provide Teller County with a balanced, enforceable, community-supported STR policy framework designed to:

• Protect water, septic, and environmental systems

• Support safe and responsible STR operation

• Reduce neighborhood conflicts

• Maintain property rights

• Strengthen enforcement capacity

• Help preserve housing options for local residents

• Strengthen rural community resilience and economic stability