If you are buying a short-term rental in Grand County, one of the easiest line items to overlook is lodging and sales tax. It matters for investors because it affects guest pricing, bookkeeping, compliance, and your overall operating strategy.
The tricky part is that each town stacks taxes differently. Even within the same county, the total tax burden on a short-term rental can change quite a bit depending on whether the property is in Winter Park, Fraser, Granby, Grand Lake, or unincorporated areas like Tabernash.
Grand County short-term rental tax table
| Area | State sales tax | Grand County sales tax | Grand County lodging tax | Town tax applied to lodging/STRs | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter Park | 2.9% | 1.3% | 2.0% | 8.0% town taxes | 14.2% |
| Fraser | 2.9% | 1.3% | 2.0% | 5.0% Fraser tax | 11.2% |
| Tabernash* | 2.9% | 1.3% | 2.0% | 0.0% town tax | 6.2% |
| Granby | 2.9% | 1.3% | 2.0% | 4.0% Granby tax | 10.2% |
| Grand Lake | 2.9% | 1.3% | 2.0% | 5.0% Grand Lake tax | 11.2% |
*Tabernash is generally treated as unincorporated Grand County, so this reflects the base county + state structure only. Some properties may still be subject to additional district-specific charges depending on location.
How these taxes break down by town
Winter Park short-term rental taxes
Winter Park has the highest combined rate in this group. Based on the town’s 2025 budget overview, the town applies 4% general sales tax, 3% lodging tax, and 1% supplemental tax, for a total local town layer of 8%. When you add Colorado’s 2.9% state sales tax, Grand County’s 1.3% sales tax, and Grand County’s 2.0% lodging tax, the total comes to 14.2%.
That makes Winter Park the most expensive tax environment of the five areas here, which is important for investors comparing nightly rate competitiveness and guest checkout totals.
Fraser short-term rental taxes
Fraser’s official short-term rental page is one of the clearest in the county. It lists Fraser 5%, Grand County 1.3%, Colorado 2.9%, and Grand County lodging tax 2.0%, for a total of 11.2%. Fraser also notes that the county lodging tax increased effective January 1, 2025.
For many buyers, Fraser lands in a useful middle ground: close to Winter Park, but with a lower total tax load on short-term rentals.
Tabernash short-term rental taxes
Tabernash is different because it is generally unincorporated, not an incorporated town with its own municipal lodging tax. That means many Tabernash properties only collect the state sales tax of 2.9%, Grand County sales tax of 1.3%, and Grand County lodging tax of 2.0%, for a total of 6.2%.
From a tax standpoint alone, Tabernash is the lightest of the group. That can be attractive for STR investors, especially when paired with larger lots, privacy, and luxury cabin product. Still, buyers should verify whether a specific property sits in any additional district or special tax area.
Granby short-term rental taxes
Granby’s finance page gives a direct breakdown for short-term rentals: 2.9% state, 1.3% Grand County, 2.0% Grand County lodging, and 4.0% Town of Granby, for a total of 10.2%. The town also states that these taxes are remitted through the state, which then distributes the local portions back accordingly.
Granby’s total is lower than Fraser and Grand Lake, and well below Winter Park. For buyers focused on cash flow and lower entry price points, that can be part of the appeal.
Grand Lake short-term rental taxes
Grand Lake requires nightly rental licenses for short-term rentals, and the town’s financial statements confirm that Grand Lake’s sales and use tax is 5%. Pairing that with Colorado’s 2.9%, Grand County’s 1.3%, and the county’s updated 2.0% lodging tax puts Grand Lake’s estimated total at 11.2%.
Grand Lake ends up effectively matching Fraser on total tax rate, even though the market and guest profile can feel very different.
What investors should take away
The headline is pretty simple: Winter Park has the highest combined short-term rental tax burden in this comparison, while Tabernash has the lowest base rate. Fraser and Grand Lake sit in the middle at 11.2%, and Granby comes in a bit lower at 10.2%.
That does not automatically mean the lowest-tax town is the best investment. A stronger market can still outperform with better occupancy, higher ADR, or stronger appreciation. But taxes absolutely belong in the underwriting conversation, especially when you are comparing similar properties across town lines.
Final thoughts
If you are looking at a short-term rental in Winter Park, Fraser, Tabernash, Granby, or Grand Lake, make sure you underwrite the property using the actual tax structure for that location, not just a generic Grand County assumption. Town boundaries matter, and so does whether the property is inside an incorporated municipality or in unincorporated Grand County.
It is also helpful to know that platforms like Airbnb typically remit these taxes on your behalf, which makes the process much more seamless for owners using their platform. That said, these taxes still matter because they are generally passed through to the guest at checkout. In other words, even if the owner is not manually collecting and filing every tax payment, the total tax burden still affects the guest’s final price and can influence booking behavior when travelers compare one property or town to another.
That is why this line item is so important to compare. A property in a lower-tax area may feel more attractive to guests at checkout, while a property in a higher-tax area may need to justify that added cost through location, amenities, views, ski access, or overall experience.