City Watch
Short-term rental rules in Missoula, MT
How Missoula 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.
- Annual STR registration number required, renewed by Jan 31
- Rental business license + Public Accommodations License required
- Three registration types; Type 1 = non-owner-occupied whole-home is permitted
- Per-parcel/per-building/per-owner caps on Type 1 & Type 2 units (still allow whole-home)
- Tourist Home in residential (R) district must file Neighbor Notification
- Safety self-inspection checklist required
Based on: Title 22 Unified Development Code (Ord. 3778, adopted 2026-02-02, effective 2026-03-04; STR/Tourist Home use standards
Summary of the rule
All short-term rentals must annually apply for a rental business license, obtain a Short-Term Rental Registration number, and renew by January 31. 'Short Term Rental means any dwelling unit that is rented out for a period of occupancy less than 28 consecutive days where the renter/guest has a principal residence other than the short term rental.'
View the ordinance source ↗✓ Verified
Last reviewed Sep 14, 2026 · Sources · Report an error
Pending legislation
Monitoring Missoula · system last checked Nov 9, 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.