Short-Term Rental Regulations
in Carbon County, MT

Airbnb listings are allowed in Carbon County, MT, but with restrictions. STRs are allowed in all zoning districts in Red Lodge but require registration and compliance with state health standards. Requirements include a valid septic permit (if applicable), private water testing, a 4% resort tax collection, and a passed fire inspection. A permit is required before you can host. These rules apply to all short-term rental platforms (Airbnb, Vrbo, Booking.com, etc.) — not just Airbnb specifically. See the official source linked on this page for full requirements. Last verified 2026-05-14.

STRs are allowed in all zoning districts in Red Lodge but require registration and compliance with state health standards. Requirements include a valid septic permit (if applicable), private water testing, a 4% resort tax collection, and a passed fire inspection.

Yes, a permit is required to operate a short-term rental in Carbon County. 1. Submit a Public Accommodations Plan Review form and $150 fee to the County Sanitarian for health/safety approval. 2. Schedule and pass a property inspection by the County and a fire inspection by the Red Lodge Fire Department. 3. Complete registration via the City's STR portal (Deckard), upload required documents, and pay the $250 city registration fee.

1. Submit a Public Accommodations Plan Review form and $150 fee to the County Sanitarian for health/safety approval. 2. Schedule and pass a property inspection by the County and a fire inspection by the Red Lodge Fire Department. 3. Complete registration via the City's STR portal (Deckard), upload required documents, and pay the $250 city registration fee.

Vrbo is permitted in Carbon County, MT under the same restrictions that apply to Airbnb — local rules govern the rental itself, not the specific platform. You must hold a valid permit before hosting on Vrbo. Last verified 2026-05-14.

Short-term rental hosts in Carbon County are typically responsible for lodging, occupancy, and applicable sales taxes — these usually apply even where hosting is allowed without a permit. Rates and remittance rules vary by jurisdiction (state, county, and city can each levy a share); confirm the current rates with the official source linked on this page. Platforms such as Airbnb and Vrbo collect some taxes automatically, but the host remains liable for any not collected on their behalf.

We are not currently tracking any recent short-term rental ordinance changes for Carbon County. STR rules change frequently — verify the current requirements with the city or county before listing, using the official source linked on this page.