Short-Term Rental Regulations
in Dayton, MT

Airbnb listings are allowed in Dayton, MT, but with restrictions. Vacation rentals in Dayton (Lake County) are treated as "public accommodations" and are subject to Lake County zoning (some districts prohibit them), required pre-opening inspections, and reviews of water supply and wastewater treatment systems; operators must comply with state public accommodation standards and collect Montana lodging taxes. Local building code and zoning conformance review by Lake County Planning is required prior to licensing. 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.

Vacation rentals in Dayton (Lake County) are treated as "public accommodations" and are subject to Lake County zoning (some districts prohibit them), required pre-opening inspections, and reviews of water supply and wastewater treatment systems; operators must comply with state public accommodation standards and collect Montana lodging taxes. Local building code and zoning conformance review by Lake County Planning is required prior to licensing.

Yes, a permit is required to operate a short-term rental in Dayton. 1) Complete and submit the Lake County "Vacation Rentals, Tourist Homes, Bed and Breakfast Plan Review Application" to Lake County Environmental Health (LCEH) and coordinate zoning conformance with Lake County Planning Department; 2) LCEH performs wastewater and water supply review and schedules a pre-opening inspection; upon county approval LCEH coordinates issuance of the Montana Public Accommodation license; 3) Register with Montana Department of Revenue (seller's permit) and remit lodging facility sales/use taxes. Fees: Lake County guidance lists plan review ($150) and WWTS permit ($100) examples and notes state public accommodation license annual fees by room-count tiers.

1) Complete and submit the Lake County "Vacation Rentals, Tourist Homes, Bed and Breakfast Plan Review Application" to Lake County Environmental Health (LCEH) and coordinate zoning conformance with Lake County Planning Department; 2) LCEH performs wastewater and water supply review and schedules a pre-opening inspection; upon county approval LCEH coordinates issuance of the Montana Public Accommodation license; 3) Register with Montana Department of Revenue (seller's permit) and remit lodging facility sales/use taxes. Fees: Lake County guidance lists plan review ($150) and WWTS permit ($100) examples and notes state public accommodation license annual fees by room-count tiers.

Vrbo is permitted in Dayton, 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 Dayton 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 Dayton. STR rules change frequently — verify the current requirements with the city or county before listing, using the official source linked on this page.