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  1. Home
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  5. Montana
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  7. Gardiner

Gardiner

Moderate
MontanaUpdated Apr 19, 2026
Gold-standard verification1% sourced

Cross-referenced against 0 official sources — municipal codes, planning-department pages, and government registries.

Verified Feb 9, 2026Sources 0

Summary

Plain-english overview

Short-term rentals in Gardiner must obtain a state health license, comply with Park County zoning (Tourist Home designation), and pay the local resort tax.

Restriction level

Severity 8
Classification
Moderate
8
Severity

Why this classification

  • Permit required
  • Reporting required
  • No night cap
  • No primary residence requirement

In plain English

What this means for you

To run an STR in Gardiner, you must get a Public Accommodation license from the state, which requires a health and safety inspection. You also need to register with the Gardiner Resort Area District to collect and remit a 4% local tax in addition to state lodging taxes. Because Gardiner is unincorporated, zoning is handled by Park County, where STRs are generally classified as 'Tourist Homes'.

At a glance

Key numbers
Permit requiredYes
Night limitNone
Primary residenceNot required
Total tax rate0.1%
Permit fee$40
Processing time4-6 weeks

3 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps
  1. 1Gardiner has a specific 4% Resort Tax that is separate from and in addition to Montana's 8% lodging tax.
  2. 2A state-level health inspection is mandatory before the DPHHS license is issued.
  3. 3The area is unincorporated, so there is no 'City Hall'; all land-use questions go to Park County in Livingston.

Regulation details

Sourced from official code
Eligibility4 rules
  • Gardiner does NOT require the property to be a primary residence. Investment properties are allowed.
  • Gardiner: Your HOA can prohibit short-term rentals even if the city allows them. Check your CC&Rs before applying.
  • Gardiner: You can have a co-host or property manager help manage your listing.
  • Gardiner allows STRs in the following property types: Single Family, Condo, Townhouse, Cabin, Tourist Home.
Requirements9 rules
  • Gardiner: The area is unincorporated, so there is no 'City Hall'; all land-use questions go to Park County in Livingston.
  • Gardiner STR warning: A state-level health inspection is mandatory before the DPHHS license is issued.
  • Gardiner STR warning: Gardiner has a specific 4% Resort Tax that is separate from and in addition to Montana's 8% lodging tax.
Application process8 rules
  • Step-by-step guide to get an STR permit in Gardiner: Step 1: Register for Montana Lodging Tax - Apply for a Montana Department of Revenue e-Services account to collect and remit the state lodging facility sales and use tax. Documents needed: FEIN or SSN, Business Name. Estimated time: 1 week. More info: https://mtrevenue.gov/taxes/lodging-facility-taxes/ Step 2: Obtain DPHHS Public Accommodation License - Apply through the State of Montana for a health license. This includes a mandatory inspection by the Park County Health Department. Documents needed: Plan review application, Floor plans, Water/Sewer approval. Estimated time: 4 weeks. Cost: 40. More info: https://dphhs.mt.gov/publichealth/fss/establishments/publicaccommodation Step 3: Register with Gardiner Resort Area District - All businesses within the Gardiner Resort District must register to collect the 4% resort tax. Documents needed: Business Registration Form. Estimated time: 1 week. More info: https://gardinerresorttax.com/for-businesses/ Step 4: Zoning Compliance - Contact Park County Planning to ensure your specific location in Gardiner allows for a 'Tourist Home' use. Documents needed: Property Address. Estimated time: 1 week. More info: https://www.parkcounty.org/Government-Departments/Planning/
Fees & costs1 rule
  • Gardiner charges a registration fee of $40 (annual).
Taxes3 rules
  • Montana has a state sales tax of 0.08% that applies to STR rentals.
  • Gardiner charges a Gardiner Resort Tax of 0.04%. This applies to stays under 30 days. Platforms like Airbnb collect and remit this tax. Note: Airbnb and VRBO generally collect the 8% state tax; owners must verify if they collect the 4% Resort Tax.
Limits & restrictions3 rules
  • Gardiner enforces quiet hours: 10pm-7am.
  • Gardiner occupancy calculation: Based on septic capacity and DPHHS standards. Count your bedrooms to determine your max guest limit.
  • Gardiner limits stays to a maximum of 30 nights.
Safety requirements1 rule
  • Gardiner requires the following safety measures for STRs: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher, fire inspection, posted maximum occupancy, posted emergency contact, State Health Inspection, Safe drinking water test, Proper septic/sewer verification.
Penalties2 rules
  • Gardiner enforces the following penalties for STR violations: First offense: Varies by state/resort district code. Permit may be revoked for violations.
  • Gardiner: Repeated violations can result in permanent permit revocation. You would lose the ability to operate any STR.
Exemptions2 rules
  • Gardiner: Rentals of 30+ days are generally NOT considered short-term rentals and may be exempt from STR regulations (but may have other requirements).
  • Gardiner exempts the following from STR regulations: long-term rentals (30+ days), extended stays.

How to get permitted

Step-by-step guide for Gardiner

0/4
steps completed
Step 1

Register for Montana Lodging Tax

Apply for a Montana Department of Revenue e-Services account to collect and remit the state lodging facility sales and use tax.

1 weekFree
Documents needed
  • FEIN or SSN
  • Business Name
Official resource
Step 2

Obtain DPHHS Public Accommodation License

Apply through the State of Montana for a health license. This includes a mandatory inspection by the Park County Health Department.

4 weeks$40
Documents needed
  • Plan review application
  • Floor plans
  • Water/Sewer approval
Official resource
Step 3

Register with Gardiner Resort Area District

All businesses within the Gardiner Resort District must register to collect the 4% resort tax.

1 weekFree
Documents needed
  • Business Registration Form
Official resource
Step 4

Zoning Compliance

Contact Park County Planning to ensure your specific location in Gardiner allows for a 'Tourist Home' use.

1 weekFree
Documents needed
  • Property Address
Official resource

Frequently asked questions

4 answered

Disclaimer

Regulatory information is AI-researched from public city/county codes for educational purposes. Details may be outdated or incomplete. Always verify requirements directly with your city/county planning department before operating a short-term rental.

Researched & verified by Learn STR at GoStudioM

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