10 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Yellowstone County, Montana.
Verified from official government sources
Yellowstone County has no dedicated short-term rental permit for unincorporated areas. County zoning (within 4.5 miles of Billings) regulates land use, not STRs specifically. Inside Billings, the city requires a short-term rental permit. All Montana STRs need a state lodging tax registration.
Yellowstone County has no STR-specific noise ordinance; general nuisance and disturbance rules apply. Inside Billings, STR permit holders must acknowledge and follow the City of Billings noise regulations and are barred from renting for large parties or gatherings.
Montana charges an 8% lodging facility sales and use tax (4% use tax plus 4% sales tax) on rentals under 30 days. This statewide tax applies across Yellowstone County. Yellowstone County levies no separate county-wide lodging or resort tax.
MCA 15-65-111
There is imposed on the user of accommodations a tax at a rate equal to 4% of the sales price paid by the purchaser.
Yellowstone County sets no STR-specific parking rule, but its zoning within 4.5 miles of Billings regulates the storage and parking of vehicles generally. Inside Billings, STR permit conditions and city zoning govern guest parking. Rural parcels outside zoning may have no parking rule.
Yellowstone County sets no short-term rental occupancy cap for unincorporated areas. Occupancy in the county zoning area is governed by general building and land-use standards. Inside Billings, the city STR permit limits one permit per dwelling and applies its dwelling occupancy rules.
Yellowstone County has no STR insurance mandate for unincorporated areas. The City of Billings requires STR applicants to acknowledge that the property meets safety requirements, but no specific liability-insurance minimum is set in county code; carrying STR coverage is strongly advised.
Yellowstone County imposes no annual night cap on short-term rentals. The City of Billings does not cap the number of rental nights either; instead it limits STRs to one permit per dwelling and requires the stay to be under 30 days to qualify as short-term.
There is no county-level STR registration in unincorporated Yellowstone County. Every Montana short-term rental must register with the Montana Department of Revenue for the lodging tax. Rentals inside Billings must also register for the city STR permit and business license.
Yellowstone County has no host-presence requirement for short-term rentals. The City of Billings does not require the owner on-site but does require a designated local contact person — not a corporation — who can respond to complaints or issues at the property.
Yellowstone County imposes no primary-residence requirement on short-term rentals in unincorporated areas. The City of Billings permits both owner-occupied guest homes and non-owner-occupied tourist homes, so a primary-residence limit is not a countywide rule.
1 cities in Yellowstone County have their own short-term rentals rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
See every category we cover for Yellowstone County — parking, noise, fences, fires, animals, pools, and more.
Yellowstone County Ordinance Hub →