City Watch
Short-term rental rules in Kalispell, MT
How Kalispell 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.
- hard citywide cap of 2% of residences in all R and RA residential zones may be used as short-term rentals
- administrative conditional use permit required before operating in any zone
- mandatory Building Department life-safety inspection as part of the CUP review
- state public accommodation (tourist home) license required, annual Flathead City-County Health Department inspection
Based on: Kalispell Zoning Ordinance §27.20.095 (Short Term Residential Rental Standards), Ord. No. 1677, adopted by City Council
Summary of the rule
No more than a total of two (2) percent of the residences in all of the "R" and "RA" zones within the City of Kalispell may be used as a short-term residential rental. This limitation shall not apply to any other zones where short term rentals are otherwise permitted.
Last reviewed Sep 27, 2026 · Sources · Report an error
Pending legislation
Monitoring Kalispell · system last checked Oct 24, 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.