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.
There is no county-level rule requiring an STR host to live in the home as a primary residence in unincorporated Yellowstone County. The City of Billings, which governs STRs inside city limits, recognizes two categories: guest homes (typically owner-present or owner-occupied situations) and tourist homes (whole-home rentals that need not be the owner's residence). Because Billings expressly permits tourist homes, a strict primary-residence-only restriction is not imposed across the jurisdiction. In the rural county, whether a home is a primary residence has no bearing on STR eligibility because no STR ordinance applies. Owners should confirm which Billings STR category fits their situation before applying for a city permit.
No county penalty applies since no primary-residence rule exists. In Billings, mislabeling an STR category on the permit application can lead to permit denial or revocation.
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 ...
See how Yellowstone County's primary-residence-only rule rules stack up against other locations.
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