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Generally Investor friendly
STRs are allowed citywide because Townsend has no ban and Montana is a property‑rights state; there are no hard caps or bans. Compliance requires moderate steps—zoning confirmation, a county fire‑protection plan/certification, standard building/fire/life‑safety adherence, possible DPHHS licensing if amenities like food or pools are offered, and state lodging tax registration. The absence of a city‑specific STR ordinance introduces some uncertainty, but processes are straightforward and not onerous.
Local STR Agent
STR specialist · Three Forks, MT
Three Forks is a small town in southwestern Montana, situated in Gallatin County at the spot where the Jefferson, Madison, and Gallatin rivers converge to form the Missouri River. With a population of approximately 1,900 residents, the community has a quiet, rural character and is best known as the historic headwaters of the Missouri and a stepping-off point for outdoor recreation in the greater Yellowstone region. The town sits along Interstate 90 roughly 30 miles west of Bozeman, with Helena and Butte each within about an hour's drive.
Just a few minutes from the town center, Missouri Headwaters State Park preserves the exact point where the three rivers meet. This is where the Lewis and Clark Expedition camped in July 1805 on their journey to the Pacific, and the park today offers interpretive displays, walking trails along the riverbanks, and excellent opportunities for picnicking, wildlife viewing, and fly fishing. Its proximity to downtown Three Forks makes it an easy stop for travelers and a convenient amenity for guests staying in the area.
Roughly 30 miles to the west lies Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park, home to one of the largest limestone cave systems in the American West. Guided tours take visitors through chambers of stalactites, stalagmites, and other dramatic formations, while the surrounding park offers hiking trails, a campground, and forested picnic areas. The combination of a unique underground tour and surface recreation makes the caverns a popular day trip from Three Forks.
South of town, the Madison River Valley stretches toward the small communities of Ennis and Virginia City, a preserved nineteenth-century mining town with a wooden boardwalk main street, museums, and seasonal stagecoach rides. Anglers travel this corridor for the blue-ribbon trout fishing on the Madison, and the same highway continues south toward Yellowstone National Park, which lies roughly two hours beyond Three Forks by car.
Three Forks appeals to short-term rental owners because it offers a quieter, more affordable alternative to staying in Bozeman while keeping visitors within easy reach of the Missouri headwaters, two notable state parks, and the broader southwestern Montana recreation network. Its blend of Lewis and Clark history, river-based activities, and proximity to larger regional destinations gives the town year-round appeal for travelers exploring the area.