City Watch
Short-term rental rules in Hamilton, MT
How Hamilton regulates short-term rentals: the rules that apply, their sources, and pending changes.
Short-term rentals here operate under a registration or permit system with ongoing operating rules.
- STR registration required annually, per unit, with pre-registration inspection
- per-operator limit of 2 STR registrations per owner (RS/RM/RH)
- one STR unit per parcel in RS/RM residential zones (non-foreclosing)
- whole-home permitted by-right in all zones; no owner-occupancy or citywide cap
Based on: Hamilton Municipal Code Title 17 (Zoning) §17.16.020 Short-term rentals + §17.08 use table; STR section created 2021
Summary of the rule
§17.16.020.E: 'Registration is required for all short-term rentals and shall be renewed annually. A separate registration shall be required for each short-term rental unit.' Applicant provides owner/contact info, notifies adjacent property owners, certifies Ravalli County Environmental Health plan-review submission, pays fee. 'Once the applicant has submitted a complete short-term rental application, the zoning administrator will review... and will issue the short-term rental registration when it has been determined that: (a) All city requirements have been met; (b) The Ravalli County Environmental Health Department has approved the short-term rental as a public accommodation; (c) The short-term rental will not cause or contribute to an imminent threat to public health and safety.' Pre-registration inspection right on reasonable notice. Neighbor step is notification only — not a discretionary protest/approval. => ministerial STR-specific process (Regulated).
View the ordinance source ↗✓ Verified
Last reviewed Sep 17, 2026 · Sources · Report an error
Pending legislation
Monitoring Hamilton · system last checked Oct 25, 2026
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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.