Short-Term Rentals in Billings, MT (2026)
6 verified short-term rentals rules for Billings, Montana, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Short-Term Rental Permits
Billings requires an annual short-term rental permit from the zoning coordinator for any dwelling rented under 30 days, with mandatory local contact and building code compliance.
Billings Short-Term Rental Permit Rules
Significant RestrictionsSec. 27-1621
Short-term rental (STR) permits are processed through section 27-1620, Permits, with the following additional requirements: ... B. Duration and renewal. 1. Short-term rental permits shall be issued for one year and must be renewed annually. 2. An application to renew a short-term rental permit should be received by the zoning coordinator not less than thirty (30) calendar days prior to the expi...
Noise Rules
Billings requires every short-term rental to stay compliant with the city's noise code, and the zoning coordinator can revoke a host's permit if noise complaints turn into substantiated code violations.
Billings Short-Term Rental Noise Rules
Some RestrictionsSec. 27-1005(O)(10)(a)
Short-term rental units must contain smoke detectors, fire extinguishers and CO2 detectors; and shall remain compliant with all zoning, building, fire, noise, and other applicable city and state codes.
Taxes & Fees
Billings treats a short-term rental as a "tourist home" and requires operators to hold a city business tax receipt under Article 13-400 before renting rooms to transient guests, in addition to any required state lodging license.
Billings STR Business Tax Receipt
Some RestrictionsSec. 7-603
No person shall conduct a motel, hotel, or rooming house and lodging house, or tourist home without first obtaining a license therefor from the Montana Department of Health and Environmental Science when required by state law and without first paying for and receiving a city business tax receipt as required by Article 13-400.
Short-Term Rental Parking Rules
Billings' zoning table requires short-term rental parking to be assigned to the dwelling unit rather than meeting a fixed space count, and a noncompliant lot can cost the host their STR permit.
Billings STR Parking Assignment Rule
Some RestrictionsTable 27-1300.1 (Sec. 27-1302); Sec. 27-1621
A.Required parking.1.Required off-street parking spaces shall be provided in conformance with Table 27-1300.1, Off-Street Parking Standards, unless modified by article 27-1100, Proportionate compliance. ... Table 27-1300.1. Off-Street Parking Standards. ... Short-Term Rental Parking assigned to dwelling unit
Occupancy Limits
Billings caps every permitted short-term rental at two guests per bedroom, whether the unit goes to a single renter or a group staying together.
Billings STR Cap: 2 Guests Per Bedroom
Some RestrictionsSec. 27-1008(O)(1)(g), Billings Municipal Code
The issuance of a short-term rental permit allows the property to be rented to either a single guest or multiple guests with a maximum limit of two guests per bedroom.
Host Presence Rule
Billings doesn't require the owner to live on-site, but during any guest stay the owner or a designated local contact must be reachable 24/7 to handle complaints about the rental.
Billings Short-Term Rental Local Contact Rule
Some RestrictionsSec. 27-1005.O.8(b)
During the term that a short-term rental unit is occupied by a guest(s), the owner and/or a local contact person designated by the owner, as identified in the short-term rental permit application, shall be available twenty-four (24) hours per day, seven (7) days per week, for the purpose of responding to complaints regarding the condition or operation of the short-term rental unit or the conduc...
Looking for Yellowstone County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Billings city rules.
Short-Term Rentals in Yellowstone County →