Short-Term Rental Regulations in Montana
State Overview
Montana has no statewide law preempting local short-term rental regulation; cities and counties regulate STRs through local zoning and licensing. A September 2024 Montana Supreme Court decision treated short-term rentals as commercial businesses, and 2025 legislation (SB 336) attempted to classify STRs as a residential use, but no statewide preemption of local STR zoning control is in effect. Localities such as Bozeman set their own STR types, zoning eligibility, permits, and caps. The state imposes a 8% Lodging Facility Use & Sales Tax in addition to any local taxes. Cities in Montana
| City | Permit | Tax Rate | Day Limit | Primary Res. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big Sky | ✓ Required | 12% | No annual cap · per-stay limit | No | → |
| Bozeman | ✓ Required | 8% | No limit | Required | → |
| Whitefish | ✓ Required | 11% | No annual cap · per-stay limit | No | → |
Montana's STR Landscape
Montana does not have a uniform STR framework, leaving regulation to individual municipalities. The state imposes a 8% Lodging Facility Use & Sales Tax in addition to local taxes.
Regulation varies significantly across cities. Some cities (Bozeman) require primary residence, while others (Big Sky, Whitefish) allow non-owner-occupied rentals. Tax rates vary from 8% to 12%.
Popular Short-Term Rental Markets
High-demand markets in other states — compare their permit, tax, and day-limit rules:
- Nashville STR regulations
- Short-term rental rules in Miami Beach
- Asheville STR regulations
- Myrtle Beach STR regulations
- Gatlinburg, TN rental rules
- Austin short-term rental permits
- Short-term rental rules in New Orleans
- San Diego STR regulations
- Savannah STR regulations
- Scottsdale short-term rental permits
Other States
Alabama 2 cities Alaska 1 city Arizona 8 cities Arkansas 3 cities California 28 cities Colorado 12 cities Connecticut 1 city Delaware 2 cities District of Columbia 1 city Florida 24 cities Georgia 6 cities Hawaii 4 cities Idaho 3 cities Illinois 2 cities Indiana 2 cities Kentucky 2 cities Louisiana 1 city Maine 4 cities Maryland 3 cities Massachusetts 6 cities Michigan 4 cities Minnesota 1 city Mississippi 2 cities Missouri 4 cities Nevada 1 city New Hampshire 2 cities New Jersey 5 cities New Mexico 3 cities New York 5 cities North Carolina 7 cities Ohio 3 cities Oklahoma 3 cities Oregon 3 cities Pennsylvania 4 cities Rhode Island 2 cities South Carolina 7 cities South Dakota 2 cities Tennessee 7 cities Texas 13 cities Utah 7 cities Vermont 2 cities Virginia 6 cities Washington 4 cities West Virginia 1 city Wisconsin 4 cities Wyoming 1 city