Durango Local Answers
Straight answers to the questions people ask about living in Durango, Colorado: what the sales tax is, when trash gets picked up, which permit you need. Each answer leads with the fact, then shows its work, and every one cites the official City, County, State or utility source it came from.
Living in Durango
Utilities, trash and recycling, internet, the library, the DMV and voting.
- Does Durango have a tool library?
Yes. The Durango Tool Library at 278 Sawyer Drive is a membership-based tool-lending library for Southwest Colorado. Members can borrow up…
- How do Durango residents bear-proof their trash?
Durango residents bear-proof their trash by locking cans in a garage or shed until pickup morning, or by leasing a wildlife-resistant…
- How does trash and recycling pickup work in Durango, Colorado?
In Durango, the City of Durango collects trash and recycling itself, once a week, from houses, duplexes and townhomes inside city limits…
- How do I dispose of a mattress or electronics in Durango, Colorado?
In Durango, you recycle electronics at the City's Recycle Center, 710 Tech Center Drive, on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., for a fee per…
- How do you dispose of yard waste in Durango, Colorado?
In Durango, yard waste has three outlets. City residents who pay the cleanup fee can set out branches and bagged leaves during Spring and…
- Is Durango, Colorado a good place to retire?
It can be, if your budget fits Durango's housing prices. About 16.7% of Durango, Colorado residents are 65 or older, and 20.8% in La Plata…
- Is Durango, Colorado a good place to live?
Whether Durango, Colorado is a good place to live depends on trade-offs, and the data cuts both ways. Census figures show 58.6 percent of…
- Is Durango, Colorado safe? What does the crime data show?
The Durango, Colorado Police Department reported 69 violent crimes in 2024, about 349 per 100,000 residents, against roughly 534 per…
- Is Durango, Colorado tap water safe to drink?
The City of Durango's 2026 water quality report, covering 2025, lists every contaminant that carries a legal limit below that limit in…
- Is there a Costco in Durango, Colorado?
No, there is no Costco in Durango, Colorado. Costco's Colorado list shows 16 warehouses, none in the Four Corners, and the nearest…
- What are the Durango Public Library hours?
The Durango Public Library at 1900 E. Third Avenue is open Monday through Wednesday 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Thursday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m…
- What is Durango, Colorado known for?
Durango, Colorado is best known for the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, a steam train that has run to Silverton since 1882. The…
- What is the median income in Durango, Colorado?
The median household income in Durango, Colorado is $78,602, according to the Census Bureau's 2020-2024 American Community Survey. That is…
- What is the population of Durango, Colorado?
Durango, Colorado had an estimated 19,756 residents in 2024, according to the Colorado State Demography Office. The 2020 Census counted…
- What time zone is Durango, Colorado in?
Durango, Colorado is in the Mountain Time Zone. Clocks run on Mountain Standard Time (UTC-7) in winter and Mountain Daylight Time (UTC-6)…
- What ZIP codes are in Durango, Colorado?
Durango, Colorado has three ZIP codes: 81301, 81302 and 81303. Most of town, including Main Avenue and Fort Lewis College, is 81301. ZIP…
- Where are the thrift stores in Durango, Colorado?
Durango, Colorado has at least nine thrift and resale stores, including Goodwill at 1230 Escalante Dr, the Methodist Thrift Shop at 986 E…
- Where is the post office in Durango, Colorado?
The Durango, Colorado Post Office is at 222 W. 8th Street, ZIP 81301. The USPS location page lists retail hours of 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday…
- Where can you get food assistance in Durango, Colorado?
Food assistance in Durango, Colorado comes mainly from Manna, which serves free take-out meals Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m…
- Where can you volunteer in Durango, Colorado?
Durango volunteer options include the Durango Food Bank, Manna soup kitchen, the La Plata County Humane Society, Durango Trails, Durango…
Housing & Real Estate
Rent, buying, property tax, HOAs and renting rules.
- How do Durango homes get propane?
Homes beyond the natural gas mains near Durango, Colorado, get propane by truck: a supplier such as Arrowhead Propane or LP Propane fills…
- How much is rent in Durango, Colorado?
Rent in Durango, Colorado averages about $2,200 to $2,300 a month across all home types in October 2026, according to Zillow and Trulia. A…
- How often should you pump a septic tank in La Plata County?
A typical household septic tank near Durango, Colorado, should be pumped every three to five years, and the system inspected at least…
- Where can I find affordable housing in Durango, Colorado?
Affordable housing in Durango, Colorado comes mainly from income-restricted apartments, vouchers and homebuyer programs. Housing Solutions…
- Who has to shovel sidewalks in Durango, Colorado?
In Durango, Colorado, the owners or occupants of a property that abuts a public sidewalk must keep that sidewalk clear of snow and ice…
City & County Rules
Permits, licenses, taxes, parking, short-term rentals and fire restrictions.
- Are fire pits allowed in Durango, Colorado?
Yes, with limits. Durango Fire & Rescue allows a small, attended recreational fire on private property in Durango without a permit: no…
- Are short-term rentals allowed in Durango, Colorado?
Yes, short-term rentals are allowed in Durango, Colorado, but only with a Limited Use Permit from the city and only in certain zones. The…
- Do you need a building permit in Durango, Colorado?
Yes, most construction in Durango, Colorado needs a building permit. The city requires one for new homes, additions, remodels, decks over…
- Does Durango, Colorado have water restrictions right now?
No. The City of Durango, Colorado ended its Stage 1 water restrictions on Oct. 6, 2026, when City Council voted to return to normal…
- How do you appeal a property valuation in La Plata County, Colorado?
To appeal a property valuation in La Plata County, Colorado, file a protest with the County Assessor by June 8 after your Notice of…
- How do I get a Colorado driver's license after moving to Durango?
New Durango residents must transfer an out-of-state driver license to a Colorado one within 30 days of establishing residency and register…
- How do you get a marriage license in La Plata County, Colorado?
To get a marriage license in La Plata County, both of you complete an online application, then attend an appointment at the Clerk and…
- How do I look up La Plata County court records?
To look up La Plata County court records, search the Colorado Judicial Branch's online docket for the La Plata County Courthouse, then…
- How do I look up property records in La Plata County, Colorado?
To look up property records in La Plata County, search the Assessor's EagleWeb database by address, owner, parcel or account number. The…
- How do I register to vote in La Plata County, Colorado?
You can register to vote in La Plata County online at GoVoteColorado.gov, at the Clerk and Recorder's office at 679 Turner Drive in…
- What are the noise rules in Durango, Colorado?
The Durango noise ordinance is Chapter 16 of the city's Code of Ordinances, and it prohibits unreasonable, excessive or unusually loud…
- What county is Durango, Colorado in?
Durango, Colorado is in La Plata County, and it is the county seat. The county covers about 1,690 square miles of land in the far…
- What is the sales tax rate in Durango, Colorado?
The sales tax rate in Durango, Colorado is 9.4% inside city limits. That is 3.5% City of Durango tax, 3.0% La Plata County tax and 2.9%…
- When are property taxes due in La Plata County, Colorado?
La Plata County property taxes are due in two halves: the first by the last day of February and the second by June 15. You can instead pay…
- Where is Durango City Hall?
Durango City Hall is at 949 East Second Avenue, Durango, CO 81301, and the main phone number is 970-375-5000. The City's hours page lists…
- Where is the DMV in Durango, Colorado?
Durango has two DMV offices. The La Plata County Motor Vehicle office at 679 Turner Drive, Suite C handles vehicle registration, titles…
- Where can you get a passport in Durango, Colorado?
You can get a passport in Durango, Colorado at the Durango Post Office, 222 W. 8th Street, by appointment. First-time applications are…
Schools, Kids & Family
Schools, child care and family life in Durango.
- How do you enroll a child in Durango School District 9-R?
To enroll a child in Durango School District 9-R, find your attendance-area school on the district's boundary map, then complete the…
- What colleges are in Durango, Colorado?
Durango, Colorado has two colleges: Fort Lewis College, a four-year public liberal arts college at 1000 Rim Drive with roughly 3,230…
- What does the Durango Community Recreation Center offer?
The Durango Community Recreation Center, at 2700 Main Avenue, offers lap and leisure pools, a hot tub, a water slide, an outdoor splash…
- What does the Durango Senior Center offer?
The Durango Senior Center, officially the Durango/La Plata County Senior Center at 2424 Main Avenue, serves people 60 and older with hot…
- What high schools are in Durango, Colorado?
Durango, Colorado has three public high schools: Durango High School and Durango Big Picture High School, both run by Durango School…
- Where are the skate parks in Durango, Colorado?
The main Durango skate park is the concrete skatepark next to Schneider Park, off 9th Street on Roosa Avenue along the Animas River. The…
- Where can you go sledding in Durango, Colorado?
Durango sledding happens mostly at Buckley Park, 1250 Main Avenue, whenever a storm leaves enough snow on the in-town hill. The park has…
Outdoors, Weather & Seasons
Trails, weather and what each season looks like in Durango.
- Are there mountain lions and grizzly bears in Durango, Colorado?
No, there are no grizzly bears in Durango, Colorado, or anywhere in the state; Colorado Parks and Wildlife says grizzlies were wiped out…
- How cold does it get in Durango, Colorado in winter?
In winter, Durango, Colorado averages a January low of 9.6°F and a high of 37.9°F, according to the National Weather Service's 1991-2020…
- How much snow does Durango, Colorado get?
Durango, Colorado gets about 64 inches of snow in an average year, according to NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals for the Durango station…
- How do you get a Christmas tree permit near Durango, Colorado?
To get a Christmas tree permit near Durango, buy one from the San Juan National Forest for $8, online at Recreation.gov (plus a service…
- How do you get a firewood permit near Durango, Colorado?
A firewood permit near Durango comes from the San Juan National Forest and costs $2 per cord online or $4 per cord at Forest Service…
- How do you get a hunting or fishing license in Durango, Colorado?
To get a hunting or fishing license in Durango, Colorado, buy it from Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) online, by phone or at a sales…
- What growing zone is Durango, Colorado?
Durango, Colorado is in USDA plant hardiness zone 6a for most of town, ZIP 81301, where the average yearly coldest night runs from minus…
- What is the elevation of Durango, Colorado?
Durango, Colorado sits at 6,512 feet (about 1,985 meters) above sea level, the figure local tourism and ski sources use for the town. The…
- What is the last frost date in Durango, Colorado?
The median last spring freeze in Durango, Colorado falls on May 21, according to NOAA's 1991-2020 normals for the town's weather station…
- When does it start snowing in Durango, Colorado?
In Durango, Colorado, the first measurable snow in town typically falls around November 11, based on 20 winters of records from the…
- Where can you swim in Durango, Colorado?
You can swim year-round at the Durango Community Recreation Center, 2700 Main Avenue, which has an 11-lane lap pool, a leisure pool with a…
- Where can you go ice skating in Durango, Colorado?
Durango ice skating happens at the Chapman Hill ice rink, 500 Florida Road, run by the City of Durango Parks and Recreation. The 2026-27…
- Where can you play disc golf in Durango, Colorado?
Durango disc golf centers on the 18-basket course at Fort Lewis College, which the PDGA lists as not private and not pay-to-play. Six…
- Where can you play pickleball in Durango, Colorado?
Durango pickleball is played at two main places: indoor drop-in sessions at the Durango Community Recreation Center, 2700 Main Avenue, and…
Getting Around
The airport, buses, roads, chain law and parking.
- Do you need tire chains in Durango, Colorado?
No, you do not need tire chains to drive around Durango, Colorado on a normal day. You need them, or approved traction tires, only when…
- Does Durango, Colorado have an airport?
Yes. Durango, Colorado is served by Durango-La Plata County Airport, code DRO, at 1000 Airport Road, about 10 miles southeast of town…
- How far is Durango, Colorado from Denver?
Durango, Colorado is about 342 road miles from Denver, a drive of roughly 6.5 hours, according to the Durango Area Tourism Office. In a…
- How do you get a taxi or rideshare in Durango, Colorado?
To get a taxi in Durango, Colorado, call a company from the airport's ground transportation list, such as Animas Transportation at…
- Is there public transportation in Durango, Colorado?
Yes. Durango Transit, run by the City of Durango, operates trolley and bus routes seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. all year, and…
- What is the closest big city to Durango, Colorado?
The closest city bigger than Durango, Colorado is Farmington, New Mexico, about 39 miles away in a straight line, with 46,624 residents in…
- Where can you park in downtown Durango, Colorado?
In downtown Durango, Colorado, park at a metered street space or in a city lot such as the Transit Center lot at 250 W. 8th Street, which…
Working & Running a Business
Licenses, taxes and practical answers for Durango workers and owners.
- How do you apply for City of Durango jobs?
To apply for City of Durango jobs, use the city's page on GovernmentJobs.com, where open positions are posted and applications are…
- How do you find a job in Durango, Colorado?
To find a job in Durango, Colorado, apply directly with its largest employers: the City of Durango, Durango School District 9-R, Fort…
- How do you get a business license in Durango, Colorado?
To get a business license in Durango, Colorado, apply to the City of Durango, which processes licenses online through its MUNIRevs portal…
Health & Safety
The hospital, urgent care, altitude, wildfire and bear safety.
- Do people get altitude sickness in Durango, Colorado?
Durango, Colorado sits at about 6,512 feet, below the 8,000 feet where the CDC says altitude illness risk generally begins, though the CDC…
- How do fire restrictions work in La Plata County, Colorado?
La Plata County fire restrictions are set by the County Sheriff, at the request of local fire chiefs, when hot, dry conditions warrant…
- Is radon a problem in Durango, Colorado?
Yes, radon is common in Durango, Colorado. La Plata Public Health says the average radon level in La Plata County homes is 5.5 pCi/L…
- What hospital is in Durango, Colorado?
Durango, Colorado's main hospital is CommonSpirit Mercy Hospital at 1010 Three Springs Blvd. It is an 82-bed, not-for-profit acute care…
- What is the air quality in Durango, Colorado?
Air quality in Durango, Colorado is mostly good or moderate. EPA data for La Plata County show 222 good days and 141 moderate days in…
- Where is urgent care in Durango, Colorado?
Urgent care in Durango, Colorado is available at Durango Urgent Care, 2577 Main Avenue, and Animas Urgent Care, 450 S. Camino del Rio…
Food, Drink & Events
Dining, drinking and the events locals plan around.
- Is there food delivery in Durango, Colorado?
Yes, food delivery is available in Durango, Colorado, through Uber Eats and DoorDash, plus restaurants that run their own delivery…
- What movie theaters are in Durango, Colorado?
Durango, Colorado has two movie theaters, both run by Allen Theatres: Durango Stadium 9 at 900 Translux Drive and Gaslight Twin Cinema at…
- What movies were filmed in Durango, Colorado?
Nearly 30 films have been shot in and around Durango, Colorado since 1925, including Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969), How the…
- Where are the grocery stores in Durango, Colorado?
Durango, Colorado has two City Market stores, an Albertsons, a Walmart Supercenter, a Natural Grocers, the community-owned Durango Natural…
- Where can you go bowling near Durango, Colorado?
The closest place for Durango bowling is Rolling Thunder Lanes in Ignacio, a 24-lane alley at 14324 Highway 172 North, open seven days a…
- Where can you see live music in Durango, Colorado?
You can see live music in Durango, Colorado at the Animas City Theatre on East College Drive, the Community Concert Hall at Fort Lewis…
Pets & Animals
Licensing, vets and animal rules in Durango.
- Can you have backyard chickens in Durango, Colorado?
Yes, the City of Durango lets residents keep six or fewer chicken hens, and its code bans other poultry outside the…
- How do I license a dog in Durango, Colorado?
A dog license in Durango costs $15 per year for a spayed or neutered dog, and $60 per year for an unaltered dog inside city limits…
- What is the leash law in Durango, Colorado?
The Durango leash law requires every dog inside city limits to be restrained by physical means, under Section 4-41 of the city's Code of…
- Where are the dog parks in Durango, Colorado?
Durango has one designated dog park: the Smelter Mountain Off-Leash Dog Area at 21850 Hwy 160 West, run by the City of Durango. Dogs may…
- Where is the La Plata County Humane Society?
The La Plata County Humane Society is at 1111 South Camino del Rio in Durango, Colorado 81303. The open-admission animal shelter, adoption…
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