Short Term Rental Inspections
Welcome to the Grand Lake Fire Protection District Short Term Rental Fire and Life Safety Inspection Program!
What is a Fire and Life Safety Inspection?
An annual fire and life safety inspection program is used for identification on hazards and preplanning to ensure the safety of first responders, improve safety of the public and occupants, and ensure proper operation of fire alarm and suppression systems. Annual fire and life safety inspections in short-term rental occupancies involve annual visits to verify compliance with adopted model code by the authority having jurisdiction and to identify circumstances or conditions that threaten the life or safety of occupants and visitors. These annual inspections are performed by a jurisdiction’s, Grand Lake Fire’s, fire marshal’s office. (description adopted from fireengineering.com)
What is a Short Term Rental?
According to the Town of Grand Lake, a short-term rental is any residence that is rented on a nightly basis for a period of time less then 30 consecutive days to one entity. Colorado.gov also includes the following parameters:
Renting of residential structure, with or without provision of meals
Rental can be entire dwelling unit, individual room, or portions of rooms
Must be privately owned and excludes ADUs, B and Bs, Inns, hotels etc.
Can be considered a lodging accommodation
Do I Need an Inspection?
GLFPD has authority to provide required inspections to Short-Term Rentals in the Grand Lake Fire Protection District Area, roughly the 80447 zip code. By ordinance of the Town of Grand Lake Board of Trustees, and recently the Grand County Board of County Commissioners, any residence that is rented on a nightly basis needs to obtain a Nightly Rental License from the proper authorities and subsequently an annual fire and life safety inspection from Grand Lake Fire.
Getting Started as a New Short-Term Rental Owner
Licensing Authorities
The short-term rental licensing process is administered by either the municipality or county government where the rental is located. Rates, forms, deadlines, definitions, and requirements for these licenses are beyond our jurisdiction.
While it’s true GLFPD does not control the licensing process, in support of the County and Town’s permitting programs, the Grand Lake Fire Protection District's Board of Directors has passed mandates for inspections of short-term rentals. These resolutions prioritize the health, safety, and welfare of property stakeholders and visitors.
Online registration and further information found at:
Town of Grand Lake’s Website or
Grand County Government’s Website
Grand Lake Fire Inspection Scheduling
Contact Grand Lake Fire Protection District to schedule a Fire and Life Safety Inspection.
Schedule your inspection here.
You can schedule your inspection for a time that is convenient for you, and you don’t have to be there to do it. We understand that many owners live out of town, and it isn’t convenient to come up for the inspection. However, you are always more than welcome to be at your home during the inspection.
Inspection and Reporting
Once the Fire and Life Safety Inspection has been scheduled. The inspection will take place.
Please remember, DON’T PANIC!!! We are here to help. The GLFPD wants you and your business to be successful as well as your customers to have a safe and peaceful experience.
Once the occupancy has passed the Fire and Life Safety Inspection, GLFPD will provide you with an invoice for payment. Please remit payment at your earliest convenience.
Once payment has been received and processed, a completed inspection report will be emailed to your address on file within two (2) business day. Please look for a message from notification@esosolutions.com. Grand Lake Fire is not responsible for and will not send the inspection reports to the licensing authority on behalf of an owner.
Please remember that a successful completion of the Fire and Life Safety Inspection is required in order to receive a Nightly Rental License from either the Town of Grand Lake or Grand County. This is also required for the annual renewal.
Inspection Fee Schedule
Initial inspection and renewal rates are the same.
Studio and 1 Bedroom Units
$150
2 and 3 Bedroom Units
$250
4 and more Bedroom Units
$350
How to Make a Payment
Grand Lake Fire can now accept online payments! Please find your link to pay online on your invoice. A 3% credit card processing fee will be assessed. Invoices may also be paid via check.
Make checks payable to: Grand Lake Fire
Memo: <STR Address> Inspection
Mail to:
Grand Lake Fire
PO Box 1408
Grand Lake, CO 80447
What to Expect When We’re Inspecting
How Long Does an Inspection Take?
The time needed for the Inspection varies based on the size of your home. Larger homes may take up to an hour and a half, and smaller ones can be completed on site in about a half an hour. We ask that you allow approximately 1 hour for the initial on-site inspection and more if you have questions or concerns during it.
What Happens During an Inspection?
An annual fire and life safety inspection on a short-term rental is used for identification of hazards and preplanning to ensure the safety of first responders, improve safety of the public and occupants, and ensure proper operation of fire alarm and suppression systems.
The Fire Marshal’s office reviews 29 codes, each with an average of 10 items that must be addressed from the International Fire Code during an inspection. Please reach out if you would like the full list. Many of the codes relate to means of egress, sizing, exit signs, number of exits and maintenance of doorways. We then review for fire prevention the occupant load, open flames, outdoor fire, ignition sources, fire and smoke prevention, and fueled equipment. To give the department more information about your structure we inspect general storage, access to building openings and roofs, joist, door and window openings, duct and air transfer openings, wiring, hazards, and concealed spaces. Finally, to best serve you incase of a fire at your property, we inspect hazards to firefighters, emergency preparedness requirements, fire apparatus access roads, key boxes, fire protection water supply and utility equipment access.
Not all codes and sub-codes will be applicable to every rental. A large house with solar panels, fireplaces, and elevators is going to take much longer to inspect than a first-floor studio condo, and this is reflected in our fee structure.
What Happens if the Occupancy Doesn’t Pass Inspection?
These inspections are compliance and cooperation-based and we do anticipate some minor issues that can be easily corrected. If we find any issues that need to be repaired or corrected, we will bring these to the owner’s attention during or immediately following the inspection. The owner will be given a reasonable period of time to make the needed changes or repairs and will notify the Inspector when they are completed. Once the repairs are approved, the owner will receive their approval to continue with the Town on their Nightly Rental License.