Home · STR Regulations · Taos, NM
Verified Aug 16, 2026 · Primary Sources Cited

Taos, NM Short-Term Rental Regulations

Current permit-cap status, minimum-stay requirements, owner-occupancy rules, and jurisdiction breakdown for short-term rentals in Taos. Every field is cited to a primary source below. Always verify the specific parcel with the operating jurisdiction before writing an offer.

Taos, NM regulatory profile

Last material change: August 2024 - Taos County Board of Commissioners adopted county-wide STR ordinance for unincorporated areas; town Ordinance 23-14 amendments precede this
Restricted
Summary

Town of Taos codifies STRs at Section 5.04.060 with a 120-permit cap and prohibits STRs in the Historic District, Historic/Hotel Overlay Zones, and Central Business District; Taos County adopted a separate ordinance in August 2024 for unincorporated areas.

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Notes for investors

Taos is one of the most restrictive small-market STR jurisdictions in New Mexico. Town Code Section 5.04.060 caps permits at 120 town-wide with a hard waitlist. Historic District, Historic/Hotel Overlay Zones, and Central Business District are off-limits regardless of cap. Allowed zones include RA and R-series residential plus C-1/C-2 commercial. Some zones require conditional use permit before STR approval. Taos County passed its own STR ordinance in August 2024 that governs unincorporated areas (Arroyo Seco, El Prado, most Taos Ski Valley approaches). Verify the parcel's specific incorporation status and zone before assuming STR feasibility.

Permit required
Yes
Permit cap in place
Yes
Town of Taos ordinance imposes a 120-permit citywide cap. Permits are also geographically restricted - prohibited in Historic District, Historic/Hotel Overlay Zones, and CBD; allowed only in RA-20, RA-10, RA-6, RA, R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, R-6, R-14, C-1, C-2 zones (some as conditional use).
Minimum stay
No minimum specified
Owner-occupancy required
No
Primary residence only
No
Operator on site required
No

Operating jurisdictions · primary sources

Town of Taos
Incorporated Town of Taos; Town Code Section 5.04.060 et seq. (STR permit program)
https://www.taosnm.gov/427/Short-Term-Rentals
Ordinance 23-14 (STR ordinance amendments)
Current codified STR regulatory text as amended
https://www.taosnm.gov/DocumentCenter/View/3996/23-14-Ordinance-Amending-the-Regulating-Short-Term-Dwelling-Units-Amendments-PDF
Taos County (unincorporated)
Unincorporated Taos County, including Arroyo Seco, El Prado, Ranchos de Taos periphery; separate STR ordinance adopted August 2024
https://www.taoscounty.org/489/Short-Term-Rental-Ordinance
Have a specific Taos property in mind? Run a $99 DepreciMax property report to size the Year-1 §168(k) bonus depreciation deduction on a specific address — line-item finish classification and calibration to a formal cost seg study.
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Verified as of 2026-08-16DepreciMax targets quarterly re-verification

Frequently asked questions · Taos STR regulations

Are short-term rentals legal in Taos, NM?

Short-term rentals in Taos are classified as restricted as of 2026-08-16. Town of Taos codifies STRs at Section 5.04.060 with a 120-permit cap and prohibits STRs in the Historic District, Historic/Hotel Overlay Zones, and Central Business District; Taos County adopted a separate ordinance in August 2024 for unincorporated areas.

Is there a short-term rental permit cap in Taos?

Yes. Town of Taos ordinance imposes a 120-permit citywide cap. Permits are also geographically restricted - prohibited in Historic District, Historic/Hotel Overlay Zones, and CBD; allowed only in RA-20, RA-10, RA-6, RA, R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, R-6, R-14, C-1, C-2 zones (some as conditional use).

What is the minimum-stay requirement for short-term rentals in Taos?

The primary source does not specify a minimum stay for short-term rentals.

Does Taos require owner-occupancy for short-term rental permits?

Taos does not require owner-occupancy for short-term rental operators as of 2026-08-16. Verify the specific parcel with the operating jurisdiction before offering, as owner-occupancy rules interact with zoning overlays.

How can I check if a specific property in Taos qualifies for short-term rental use?

Contact the operating jurisdiction directly using the primary-source links published on this page. Zoning, HOA restrictions, and pending regulatory changes are parcel-specific and can override the citywide profile above. DepreciMax's $99 property report separately sizes the Year-1 §168(k) bonus depreciation deduction for a specific address, once regulatory clearance is confirmed.

How do I estimate the Year-1 bonus depreciation on a specific Taos property?

Once you've verified the regulatory profile of a listing you're considering, run a $99 DepreciMax property report to size the actual Year-1 §168(k) bonus depreciation deduction. The report analyzes the listing photos to classify finishes as 5-year personal property, 15-year land improvements, or 39-year structural — producing a line-item estimate closely calibrated to a formal cost seg study.

Where do I check other STR markets?

Use the DepreciMax STR Regulations Database for the full top-50 market fleet — every market cited to a primary jurisdiction source, updated quarterly.

Not legal or tax advice. Short-term rental regulations change frequently and vary by parcel, zone, and HOA. The information on this page is a summary of publicly available primary sources as of 2026-08-16. Before acting — buying, listing, or operating a short-term rental in Taos — verify current rules with the operating jurisdiction and consult a local attorney and CPA.