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Coram, MT

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STR Regulations for Coram, Montana

Overview

Short-term rentals are allowed in Coram, MT but are subject to specific regulations at the county and state level. There are no city-specific regulations for Coram as it is an unincorporated community within Flathead County. All STR operations must comply with Flathead County Zoning Regulations (FCZR) and Montana state requirements. The Canyon Area Land Use Regulatory System (CALURS) applies to specific areas within Flathead County near Glacier National Park but does not apply to Coram.

What do Airbnb hosts actually earn in Coram?

Coram hosts earn a median $41,440/year with $336 ADR and 61% occupancy.

Top performers pull in $61,577+ per year.

See the full Coram market breakdown

How to Start a Short-Term Rental Business in Coram

1. Determine Zoning Compliance

First, verify your property's zoning classification with Flathead County Planning & Zoning. Short-term rentals in Flathead County fall into different categories based on zoning:

  • Permitted Uses (No Conditional Use Permit Required): Short-term rentals are permitted uses in RR, B-2, B-4, BM-1, BM-2, BR-2, BR-4, CVR, SC, and NF zones but must still comply with performance standards outlined in Section 5.11 of the FCZR.

  • Conditional Use Permit Required: An administrative conditional use permit is required for STRs in AG, SAG, R, RA, and RC zones, as well as B-3, B-5, B-6, AL, LBL, LL, LS, RL, and WV zones.

  • Prohibited: Short-term rentals are not allowed in zones not specified above.

2. Apply for Required Permits

  • If your property requires a conditional use permit, submit an application to the Flathead County Planning & Zoning office following the administrative conditional use permit process.

  • Complete the application process, which includes agency referrals and notifications to property owners within 150 feet of your property boundary.

  • Allow up to a month and a half for the administrative process from application determination as complete to decision.

3. Obtain State License

  • Apply for a Montana Public Accommodation License for a Tourist Home from the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services. This license must be renewed annually.

  • Submit to inspections for potable water, wastewater disposal, hygienic amenities, and property maintenance standards.

4. Implement Required Systems

  • Establish a guest register system that collects names and contact information, storing records for a minimum of one year.

  • Set up a system to collect and remit Montana lodging taxes (4% Lodging Facility Use Tax and 4% Lodging Sales Tax).

  • Ensure compliance with off-street parking requirements (minimum of two spaces for STRs within principal dwellings, with additional requirements for larger properties).

Required Documents, Permits, Licenses, and Guidelines

County Level

  • Administrative Conditional Use Permit (for specified zones)
  • Compliance with Section 5.11 FCZR performance standards
  • Local contact person information (available 24/7 and able to arrive within one hour)

State Level

  • Public Accommodation License from Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services
  • Guest register system (name and contact information stored for minimum one year)
  • Compliance with Montana public accommodation rules

Taxes

  • State Bed Tax (both Lodging Facility Use Tax and Lodging Sales Tax at 4% each)
  • Property taxes as applicable

Specific Regulations for Short-Term Rentals

Flathead County Regulations

  • Definition: A short-term rental is a residential use in a dwelling unit designed for rental periods less than 30 days.

  • Occupancy: Maximum occupancy is determined by sewage capacity as determined by the Flathead City-County Environmental Health Department, the applicable sewer district, or the number of bedrooms in the dwelling, whichever is fewer.

  • Signage: One sign is allowed, no larger than 1 square foot, displaying only the property owner, address, or management company name/number.

  • Quiet Hours: Must be established and posted within the STR and in online advertisements.

  • Parking: Minimum of two off-street parking spaces for STRs within principal dwellings; additional requirements for larger properties.

  • Compliance: STRs must comply with the Flathead County Community Wildfire Mitigation Plan, including restrictions on campfires during high fire danger periods.

Montana State Regulations

  • Licensing: Annual Public Accommodation License required.

  • Inspection: Annual inspections for potable water, wastewater disposal, and general hygiene standards.

  • Guest Register: Maintain records of all guests for minimum one year.

  • Taxes: Collect and remit state lodging taxes on all rentals 29 days or shorter.

Contact Information

Local Authority - Flathead County Planning & Zoning

State Authority - Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services

Links to Source Pages

Note: Regulations may change. Always verify current requirements with local authorities before establishing a short-term rental business.

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Coram

Market Saturation Score

036912
Low Saturation
1/ 12
months with declining YoY revenue
0–1 declining months: minimal saturation pressure — revenue trends are stable.
View Full Coram Market Analysis

Photos of Coram

Overview of Coram

Coram is a small unincorporated community in Flathead County, Montana, tucked into the forested northern part of the Flathead Valley. With a population of only a few hundred residents, it has the feel of a quiet mountain hamlet rather than a destination town, yet its location gives it an outsized role as a staging ground for some of the most celebrated outdoor scenery in the American Rockies. The community sits along U.S. Highway 2 and the North Fork of the Flathead River, with Columbia Falls just a few miles to the southwest and the larger city of Kalispell, the regional hub with an airport and full services, about 25 miles to the south-southwest. Travelers heading to the West Entrance of Glacier National Park pass directly through Coram, which gives the village its identity as a gateway community.

The marquee draw is Glacier National Park, whose West Entrance at West Glacier is only about a ten-minute drive north of Coram. The park offers more than 700 miles of hiking trails, the Going-to-the-Sun Road scenic drive across the Continental Divide, ranger-led programs, and a string of glacial lakes and alpine meadows that draw visitors from around the world. Staying in Coram rather than inside the park puts guests within easy day-trip range while keeping them close to highway services and a more relaxed base.

Just a short drive south of Coram, the Flathead National Forest surrounds the community and provides immediate access to a wide range of outdoor recreation, including hiking, mountain biking, rafting on the Flathead River, and cross-country skiing in winter. The forest's trailheads, campgrounds, and river access points mean that even visitors who never set foot in the national park can spend days exploring without leaving the area.

About thirty minutes north of Coram, the town of Whitefish offers a livelier side of the region, with a walkable downtown on the shore of Whitefish Lake, galleries, restaurants, and the winter ski mountain at Whitefish Mountain Resort. To the south, Kalispell provides a fuller urban experience with museums, breweries, and shopping, while Flathead Lake, the largest natural freshwater lake west of the Mississippi, is roughly an hour's drive away and offers boating, swimming, and waterfront dining.

For short-term rental owners, Coram's appeal is its combination of small-town quietness and immediate access to Glacier National Park and the surrounding Flathead wilderness. Visitors who book a stay here can be on Going-to-the-Sun Road within minutes, on the ski slopes of Whitefish within a half hour, and on the shores of Flathead Lake within an hour, all while returning each evening to a peaceful, tree-shaded setting that feels far removed from the busier resort towns.

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