Do I need a permit for short-term rentals in West Yellowstone?

**Yes**, West Yellowstone requires a Short-Term Rental Permit for all rentals. You need to apply for a Town Short-Term Rental permit and pay a $300 annual fee. The property must pass a fire safety inspection to ensure alarms are functional per Municipal Code § 5.32.

What is the TOT tax rate in West Yellowstone?

**4% is** the local Resort Tax rate for short-term rentals in West Yellowstone, Montana. Hosts are responsible for collecting this tax from guests and remitting it quarterly to the town. You need to contact the town's finance department for specific instructions on how to properly collect and remit taxes.

Are short-term rentals allowed in West Yellowstone?

**Yes**, short-term rentals are generally allowed in West Yellowstone, Montana, provided you obtain the required permit and comply with local regulations. You need to ensure your rental property meets safety standards and collect the applicable local resort tax. Contact the town for specific zoning regulations.

How much does an STR permit cost in West Yellowstone?

**$300 is** the annual fee for a Short-Term Rental Permit in West Yellowstone, Montana. You need to renew this permit annually to legally operate a short-term rental within the town limits. Contact the town's permit office for specific details on the application process.

Can renters host on Airbnb in West Yellowstone?

**No**, tenants are not permitted to host on Airbnb in West Yellowstone without the property owner's explicit consent. You need to verify that your lease agreement allows for short-term rentals and obtain written permission from the landlord before listing the property. Subletting rules apply.

West Yellowstone

Moderate

MontanaUpdated Feb 10, 2026

Gold-standard verification1% sourced

Cross-referenced against 3 official sources — municipal codes, planning-department pages, and government registries.

Verified Jan 30, 2026Sources 3

Summary

Plain-english overview

West Yellowstone regulates short-term rentals under Chapter 5.32 of the Municipal Code, requiring an annual permit and life-safety inspections. Hosts must collect a 4% local Resort Tax in addition to Montana state lodging taxes.

Restriction level

Severity 26

Classification

Moderate

Severity

Why this classification

Moderate permit fee: $300
Tenants cannot host
Permit required
Reporting required
No night cap
No primary residence requirement

In plain English

What this means for you

To host an Airbnb in the Town of West Yellowstone, you must apply for a Town Short-Term Rental permit and pay a $300 annual fee. Your property must pass a fire safety inspection to ensure egress windows and alarms are functional. You are required to collect a 4% local Resort Tax from every guest and remit it quarterly to the town. All rentals must provide off-street parking and have a local property manager available 24/7.

At a glance

Key numbers

Permit requiredYes

Night limitNone

Primary residenceNot required

Total tax rate0.1%

Permit fee$300

Processing time2-4 weeks

6 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps

1You must have a local contact person available 24 hours a day to respond to complaints within 60 minutes.
2Off-street parking is strictly required for guests; on-street parking during winter months is often prohibited due to snow removal.
3The 4% Resort Tax is specific to the Town and is separate from the Montana State Lodging Tax.
4Properties must pass a life-safety inspection before a permit is issued, with a focus on egress windows in bedrooms.
5Check your property's exact location; properties outside the town limits are governed by Gallatin County, which has different rules.
6Trash must be stored in bear-proof containers or secured locations, as per local wildlife safety ordinances.

Regulation details

Sourced from official code

Eligibility7 rules

West Yellowstone prohibits STRs in the following property types: Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), Tents, Recreational Vehicles (unless in licensed RV park).
West Yellowstone does NOT require the property to be a primary residence. Investment properties are allowed.
West Yellowstone: Non-owner occupied rentals are prohibited in the Madison Addition residential zones (R-1 through R-4).

Requirements14 rules

Common mistakes and gotchas for STR hosts in West Yellowstone: 1. ADUs are strictly prohibited for STR use per Ordinance 277 (2024). 2. Non-owner occupied rentals are prohibited in the Madison Addition residential zones (R-1 through R-4). 3. A State Public Accommodation License is a mandatory prerequisite for the local city license. 4. A 4% local Resort Tax must be collected in addition to the 8% state lodging taxes. 5. A parking site plan is required as part of the business license application. 6. Property owners in the Madison Addition face active police enforcement and citations for illegal STR activity.

Application process7 rules

How to set up an STR in West Yellowstone: To host an Airbnb in West Yellowstone, you must first get a state-level Public Accommodation License from Montana DPHHS, which involves a health and fire safety inspection. Locally, you need a West Yellowstone Business License and must register for the 4% Resort Tax. Be aware that non-owner occupied rentals are strictly prohibited in residential areas like the Madison Addition, and no STRs are allowed in Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) town-wide.

Taxes3 rules

Montana has a state sales tax of 8% that applies to STR rentals.
West Yellowstone: A 4% local Resort Tax must be collected in addition to the 8% state lodging taxes.

Limits & restrictions1 rule

West Yellowstone limits stays to a maximum of 30 nights.

Safety requirements1 rule

West Yellowstone requires the following safety measures for STRs: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher, fire inspection, Potable water supply proof, Wastewater disposal proof.

Penalties2 rules

West Yellowstone: Repeated violations can result in permanent permit revocation. You would lose the ability to operate any STR.
West Yellowstone enforces the following penalties for STR violations: First offense: Citation/Fine. Permit may be revoked for violations.

Exemptions2 rules

West Yellowstone: Rentals of 30+ days are generally NOT considered short-term rentals and may be exempt from STR regulations (but may have other requirements).
West Yellowstone exempts the following from STR regulations: long-term rentals (30+ days).

How to get permitted

Step-by-step guide for West Yellowstone

0/5

steps completed

Step 1

Zoning Verification

Verify your property is in a zone that allows short-term rentals by contacting the Planning Department.

1-3 daysFree

Official resource

Step 2

Obtain State Lodging License

Apply for a Public Accommodation License from the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services.

2-4 weeks

Official resource

Step 3

Town Permit Application

Submit the Short-Term Rental Application to the Town of West Yellowstone along with the application fee.

Variable$300

Documents needed

Site plan
Floor plan
Property management agreement

Official resource

Step 4

Pass Fire and Life Safety Inspection

Schedule and pass an inspection by the West Yellowstone Fire Department or Building Official.

1 weekFree

Step 5

Register for Resort Tax

ImmediateFree

Official resource

Frequently asked questions

5 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

West Yellowstone

Moderate

MontanaUpdated Feb 10, 2026

Gold-standard verification1% sourced

Cross-referenced against 3 official sources — municipal codes, planning-department pages, and government registries.

Verified Jan 30, 2026Sources 3

Summary

Plain-english overview

Restriction level

Severity 26

Classification

Moderate

Severity

Why this classification

Moderate permit fee: $300
Tenants cannot host
Permit required
Reporting required
No night cap
No primary residence requirement

In plain English

What this means for you

At a glance

Key numbers

Permit requiredYes

Night limitNone

Primary residenceNot required

Total tax rate0.1%

Permit fee$300

Processing time2-4 weeks

6 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps

1You must have a local contact person available 24 hours a day to respond to complaints within 60 minutes.
2Off-street parking is strictly required for guests; on-street parking during winter months is often prohibited due to snow removal.
3The 4% Resort Tax is specific to the Town and is separate from the Montana State Lodging Tax.
4Properties must pass a life-safety inspection before a permit is issued, with a focus on egress windows in bedrooms.
5Check your property's exact location; properties outside the town limits are governed by Gallatin County, which has different rules.
6Trash must be stored in bear-proof containers or secured locations, as per local wildlife safety ordinances.

Regulation details

Sourced from official code

Eligibility7 rules

West Yellowstone prohibits STRs in the following property types: Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), Tents, Recreational Vehicles (unless in licensed RV park).
West Yellowstone does NOT require the property to be a primary residence. Investment properties are allowed.
West Yellowstone: Non-owner occupied rentals are prohibited in the Madison Addition residential zones (R-1 through R-4).

Requirements14 rules

Common mistakes and gotchas for STR hosts in West Yellowstone: 1. ADUs are strictly prohibited for STR use per Ordinance 277 (2024). 2. Non-owner occupied rentals are prohibited in the Madison Addition residential zones (R-1 through R-4). 3. A State Public Accommodation License is a mandatory prerequisite for the local city license. 4. A 4% local Resort Tax must be collected in addition to the 8% state lodging taxes. 5. A parking site plan is required as part of the business license application. 6. Property owners in the Madison Addition face active police enforcement and citations for illegal STR activity.

Application process7 rules

How to set up an STR in West Yellowstone: To host an Airbnb in West Yellowstone, you must first get a state-level Public Accommodation License from Montana DPHHS, which involves a health and fire safety inspection. Locally, you need a West Yellowstone Business License and must register for the 4% Resort Tax. Be aware that non-owner occupied rentals are strictly prohibited in residential areas like the Madison Addition, and no STRs are allowed in Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) town-wide.

Taxes3 rules

Montana has a state sales tax of 8% that applies to STR rentals.
West Yellowstone: A 4% local Resort Tax must be collected in addition to the 8% state lodging taxes.

Limits & restrictions1 rule

West Yellowstone limits stays to a maximum of 30 nights.

Safety requirements1 rule

West Yellowstone requires the following safety measures for STRs: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher, fire inspection, Potable water supply proof, Wastewater disposal proof.

Penalties2 rules

West Yellowstone: Repeated violations can result in permanent permit revocation. You would lose the ability to operate any STR.
West Yellowstone enforces the following penalties for STR violations: First offense: Citation/Fine. Permit may be revoked for violations.

Exemptions2 rules

West Yellowstone: Rentals of 30+ days are generally NOT considered short-term rentals and may be exempt from STR regulations (but may have other requirements).
West Yellowstone exempts the following from STR regulations: long-term rentals (30+ days).

How to get permitted

Step-by-step guide for West Yellowstone

0/5

steps completed

Step 1

Zoning Verification

Verify your property is in a zone that allows short-term rentals by contacting the Planning Department.

1-3 daysFree

Official resource

Step 2

Obtain State Lodging License

Apply for a Public Accommodation License from the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services.

2-4 weeks

Official resource

Step 3

Town Permit Application

Submit the Short-Term Rental Application to the Town of West Yellowstone along with the application fee.

Variable$300

Documents needed

Site plan
Floor plan
Property management agreement

Official resource

Step 4

Pass Fire and Life Safety Inspection

Schedule and pass an inspection by the West Yellowstone Fire Department or Building Official.

1 weekFree

Step 5

Register for Resort Tax

ImmediateFree

Official resource

Frequently asked questions

5 answered

Disclaimer

Researched & verified by Learn STR at GoStudioM

Summary

Restriction level

Why this classification

In plain English

At a glance

6 things hosts often miss

Regulation details

How to get permitted

Zoning Verification

Obtain State Lodging License

Town Permit Application

Pass Fire and Life Safety Inspection

Register for Resort Tax

Frequently asked questions

1Do I need a permit for short-term rentals in West Yellowstone?

2What is the TOT tax rate in West Yellowstone?

3Are short-term rentals allowed in West Yellowstone?

4How much does an STR permit cost in West Yellowstone?

5Can renters host on Airbnb in West Yellowstone?

Disclaimer

Summary

Restriction level

Why this classification

In plain English

At a glance

6 things hosts often miss

Regulation details

How to get permitted

Zoning Verification

Obtain State Lodging License

Town Permit Application

Pass Fire and Life Safety Inspection

Register for Resort Tax

Frequently asked questions

1Do I need a permit for short-term rentals in West Yellowstone?

2What is the TOT tax rate in West Yellowstone?

3Are short-term rentals allowed in West Yellowstone?

4How much does an STR permit cost in West Yellowstone?

5Can renters host on Airbnb in West Yellowstone?

Disclaimer