Short-Term Rental Regulations
in Lake County, MT

Airbnb listings are allowed in Lake County, MT, but with restrictions. Vacation rentals are treated as 'public sleeping accommodations' and must meet Montana DPHHS standards; they are allowed only where zoning permits, as some districts explicitly disallow them. Operators must pass a pre-opening plan review and inspection by Lake County Environmental Health, meet specific wastewater capacity requirements (which set bedroom limits), maintain a 1-year guest log, and obtain a Montana Public Accommodation license. 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 are treated as 'public sleeping accommodations' and must meet Montana DPHHS standards; they are allowed only where zoning permits, as some districts explicitly disallow them. Operators must pass a pre-opening plan review and inspection by Lake County Environmental Health, meet specific wastewater capacity requirements (which set bedroom limits), maintain a 1-year guest log, and obtain a Montana Public Accommodation license.

Yes, a permit is required to operate a short-term rental in Lake County. 1) Contact Lake County Planning Dept to confirm zoning and obtain a Zoning Conformance Permit; 2) Submit the Public Sleeping Accommodation Plan Review Application to Lake County Environmental Health with the $150 fee, provide water test results, and pass a pre-opening inspection; 3) Upon county approval, submit the Montana Public Accommodation License application and fee to DPHHS and register with the Montana Department of Revenue for lodging taxes.

1) Contact Lake County Planning Dept to confirm zoning and obtain a Zoning Conformance Permit; 2) Submit the Public Sleeping Accommodation Plan Review Application to Lake County Environmental Health with the $150 fee, provide water test results, and pass a pre-opening inspection; 3) Upon county approval, submit the Montana Public Accommodation License application and fee to DPHHS and register with the Montana Department of Revenue for lodging taxes.

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