Short-Term Rental Regulations
in Grand Forks County, ND

Airbnb listings are allowed in Grand Forks County, ND, but with restrictions. County ordinance does not explicitly define 'short-term rentals'; analogous uses must comply with county zoning district use allowances and performance standards and may require a Special Use, Interim Use, or Administrative Permit; applicable building code, sewage/water requirements, and parking/performance standards must be met. City of Grand Forks (within city limits) has a rental licensing/certificate-of-occupancy program for one- and two-family rentals. 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.

County ordinance does not explicitly define 'short-term rentals'; analogous uses must comply with county zoning district use allowances and performance standards and may require a Special Use, Interim Use, or Administrative Permit; applicable building code, sewage/water requirements, and parking/performance standards must be met. City of Grand Forks (within city limits) has a rental licensing/certificate-of-occupancy program for one- and two-family rentals.

Yes, a permit is required to operate a short-term rental in Grand Forks County. 1) Request a pre-application meeting with the Grand Forks County Planning Department; 2) Submit a completed Special Use/Interim/Administrative permit application to the Planning Department with required site plan and supporting information and pay the fee established by the County Commission; 3) For Special/Interim uses, participate in public hearings (Planning Commission and County Commission) and satisfy conditions (inspections, building/sewage compliance) documented in the permit.

1) Request a pre-application meeting with the Grand Forks County Planning Department; 2) Submit a completed Special Use/Interim/Administrative permit application to the Planning Department with required site plan and supporting information and pay the fee established by the County Commission; 3) For Special/Interim uses, participate in public hearings (Planning Commission and County Commission) and satisfy conditions (inspections, building/sewage compliance) documented in the permit.

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