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.
The county has no STR-specific occupancy or guest-count limit for unincorporated parcels; occupancy defaults to general building-code and dwelling-unit standards. The City of Billings, which governs STRs inside city limits, allows a maximum of one short-term rental permit per dwelling and permits two STR types — guest homes and tourist homes — with occupancy tied to the dwelling and the city's applicable safety requirements. Because Montana counties zone only the unincorporated county, a rural Yellowstone County rental outside any adopted zoning district may have no local occupancy rule at all beyond state building code. Confirm the exact limit for your parcel with County Planning or the City of Billings Planning Division.
Overcrowding beyond building-code limits can trigger code-enforcement action. In Billings, exceeding permit terms may lead to permit revocation and civil penalties.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Yellowstone County, MT
Yellowstone County has no ordinance banning backyard composting. Residents may compost yard and food waste; keep piles from becoming a rodent, odor, or vecto...
Yellowstone County, MT
Yellowstone County has no ordinance banning or requiring a permit for artificial turf on residential lawns. Homeowners may install synthetic grass; HOA coven...
Yellowstone County, MT
Yellowstone County does not require or prohibit native-plant landscaping. Residents may plant Montana natives and drought-tolerant xeriscape freely, provided...
Yellowstone County, MT
Rainwater harvesting is legal in Montana and encouraged. Yellowstone County has no ordinance restricting rain barrels. Rooftop collection for outdoor landsca...
Yellowstone County, MT
Unincorporated Yellowstone County imposes no standing lawn-watering rule. The City of Billings enacts temporary Stage 1 restrictions during peak demand, typi...
Yellowstone County, MT
Montana law makes noxious-weed control MANDATORY for every landowner. State statute makes it unlawful to let a noxious weed go to seed on your land, and the ...
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