Short-term rental permit rules in Yellowstone County, MT — also called Airbnb permits, vacation rental licenses, or STR registration — list the application steps, fees, and operating requirements for hosting.
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's zoning jurisdiction covers an area within 4 1/2 miles of the Billings city limits and regulates land uses, building setbacks, vehicle parking/storage, and property maintenance, but the county sets no separate STR permit for unincorporated land. If your rental is inside the City of Billings, the city adopted short-term rental regulations in 2020 (Billings City Code Chapter 27, Zoning) requiring a short-term rental permit plus a city business license. Statewide, every Montana lodging operator must register with the Montana Department of Revenue and collect the 8% lodging facility sales and use tax. Always confirm your parcel's jurisdiction with County Planning before advertising.
In the county zoning area, land-use and property-maintenance violations are handled by Code Enforcement (406-652-2050). Inside Billings, operating without the city STR permit brings escalating daily civil penalties.
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