Short-term rental permit rules in Bozeman, MT — also called Airbnb permits, vacation rental licenses, or STR registration — list the application steps, fees, and operating requirements for hosting.
Bozeman regulates short-term rentals under Unified Development Code Section 38.360.250. STRs are sorted into three types based on owner-occupancy, all must register with the city, and zoning limits where each type may operate. The 2026 UDC update further tightened where non-owner-occupied rentals are allowed.
Short-term rentals in Bozeman are governed by the Unified Development Code at Section 38.360.250. The code defines three types: Type 1 (owner-occupied primary residence with the owner present during the rental), Type 2 (owner-occupied primary residence, duplex, or ADU where the owner is not present during the rental), and Type 3 (an entire home that is not an owner-occupied primary residence). Type 2 is further split into 2A (the primary residence rented while the owner is away) and 2B (a second unit such as an ADU or a unit in a duplex/multi-dwelling on the same lot or in the same building). Every STR must be registered with the city before operating, and the allowed type depends on the zoning district. Bozeman's broader UDC overhaul effective February 1, 2026 consolidated the RS, R1, and R2 districts into a new RA district where only Type 1 STRs are allowed, meaning some previously permitted Type 2 rentals in those areas may no longer qualify. Bozeman's approach is among the stricter STR frameworks in Montana, reflecting concern over housing availability.
Operating an unregistered STR, or running a type of STR not allowed in your zoning district, violates UDC Section 38.360.250 and can result in code-enforcement action, fines, and loss of the ability to register. The city's Community Development department administers STR registration and enforcement.
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