Ouray County is requesting a variance from part of the governor’s “safer at home” public health order, asking for permission to allow short-term rentals to resume operations when the county’s lodging restrictions expire on Friday.

This will be the first time since March 26 that lodging establishments can take bookings from non-county residents who are staying for less than a month, or allow those who are not working here for Ouray County businesses to book shorter stays.

The state’s ...