Important Update for Downtown Salida: The Short-Term Residency Requirement Has Been Lifted

There’s been a meaningful change in the Downtown Commercial District in Salida, Colorado: the short-term residency requirement has officially been lifted.

This update affects Downtown Salida real estate, Salida short-term rentals (STRs), and future opportunities for local business growth and investment.

How This Change Came Together

This decision followed months of community discussion, questions from property owners, and ongoing conversations around how to best support responsible growth in downtown. Throughout the process, I did my part to share information, pass along community feedback, and advocate for clarity in Salida’s short-term rental rules.

Communicating With City Leadership

I reached out to city leadership through emails and conversations to better understand the intention behind the existing requirement and to share the concerns I was hearing from property owners and business operators. My goal was simply to provide helpful information and make sure the real-world challenges were clearly represented.

This included:

• Explaining how the requirement limited certain types of investment

• Sharing examples from other Colorado communities

• Passing along feedback from local owners and business stakeholders

• Requesting clarity around how STRs fit into the commercial district

These exchanges helped build a more complete picture of how the policy impacted everyday people.

Sharing Information With the Community

I also spent time speaking with Salida property owners, small business owners, and residents about what lifting the requirement could mean for:

• Downtown vibrancy

• Flexibility for commercial property use

• Responsible short-term rental opportunities

• The broader health of the Salida business district

My priority was to help people understand the discussion, not to push any particular viewpoint.

Why This Matters for Downtown Salida

With the short-term residency requirement removed, the Downtown Commercial District now has more room for thoughtful growth and updated uses. This creates new possibilities for:

• More flexible commercial property options

• Responsible STR opportunities in downtown Salida

• A stronger and more adaptable local economy

• Long-term investment and redevelopment

This update supports a downtown that can evolve with community needs while still maintaining Salida’s unique character.

What This Means for Property Owners & STR Operators

If you own downtown property, are exploring short-term rental options, or simply want to understand how the updated zoning affects you, I’m always available to discuss the details and help answer questions.