City Watch
Short-term rental rules in Bozeman, MT
How Bozeman regulates short-term rentals: the rules that apply, their sources, and pending changes.
Rules here limit which homes may operate as short-term rentals, how many, where, or for how many nights a year.
- Non-owner-occupied whole-home STRs (Type 3) prohibited citywide (new permits foreclosed; only legacy grandfathered units continue)
- Residential zones permit only owner-occupied Type 1; consolidated residential RA district (formerly RS/R1/R2) allows Type 1 only under 2026 UDC
- STR classification tied to owner-occupancy / primary-residence, a supply device constraining general housing stock
- STR-specific hosting permit and licensing process required for all types
Based on: Bozeman Municipal Code Ch. 38 (Unified Development Code) § 38.360.250 (Short-term rentals); Ordinance 2149
Summary of the rule
Type 3 short-term rentals (entire home, not owner-occupied primary residence) are prohibited within the City of Bozeman; only existing compliant Type 3 STRs with an active (non-expired) City hosting permit may continue to operate as a 'Legacy Type 3'.
View the ordinance source ↗✓ Verified
Last reviewed Sep 14, 2026 · Sources · Report an error
Pending legislation
Monitoring Bozeman · system last checked Oct 25, 2026
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City Watch tracks changes from public sources — council agendas, state bills, local news — not a complete legal compendium.
A city permit is not the whole picture — HOA, condominium, deed, or lease rules may be stricter.
City Watch provides good-faith summaries of publicly available information as of the review date shown. Rules, enforcement, and permit availability can change, and summaries may contain errors or omissions. Ratings describe the general regulatory environment; they do not establish whether a particular property or stay is permitted. This is general information, not legal advice. Before buying, listing, or hosting, verify applicable requirements with the responsible authorities and review any HOA, condominium, deed, or lease restrictions.