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Glendive, MT

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STR Regulations for Glendive, Montana

Short-Term Rental (STR) Investor Guide — Glendive, Montana (Dawson County)

Overview

  • Short-term rentals are allowed in Glendive, Montana. The state regulates short-term lodging (e.g., hotels, motels, bed & breakfasts, tourist homes/STRs such as Airbnb/VRBO) as “public sleeping accommodations.” STR operators in Glendive must comply with Montana’s public accommodation rules and licensing requirements.

What do Airbnb hosts actually earn in Glendive?

Glendive hosts earn a median $21,105/year with $121 ADR and 63% occupancy.

Top performers pull in $26,883+ per year.

See the full Glendive market breakdown

How to Start a Short-Term Rental Business in Glendive (Step-by-Step)

  1. Understand state-level requirements. Montana treats lodging that serves transient guests as public sleeping accommodations. If your STR fits this definition, Montana rules apply regardless of local zoning.
  2. Select a compliant property. Confirm the property can meet Montana sanitation, safety, and operational standards for public sleeping accommodations.
  3. Complete plan review with the county. Submit building/operational plans to the county environmental health department/sanitarian where the property is located (Dawson County). The county will review and may require corrections before approval.
  4. Apply for licensure/registration. After plan approval, apply for the appropriate state/county licensure/registration as a public accommodation under Montana law.
  5. Prepare operations. Implement housekeeping, safety, and guest-services protocols aligned with Montana’s rules (sanitation, water supply, posting requirements, etc.). Prepare guest materials for bed-bug awareness and emergency procedures.
  6. Open and maintain compliance. Keep records, maintain standards, and be ready for inspections. Contact your county sanitarian for ongoing compliance questions.

Note on zoning: No specific Glendive or Dawson County zoning, permit, or business license requirements were provided in the source content. Verify locally whether any city/county business licenses or zoning approvals are needed beyond the state public accommodation framework.

Required Documents, Permits, Licenses, and Guidelines

  • Plan Review Application: Submit to the county environmental health department/sanitarian for the property’s jurisdiction (Dawson County) per Montana’s plan-review requirements.
  • Public Accommodation License/Registration: Required under Montana’s licensing and regulation statutes for public accommodation establishments (50-51 MCA).
  • Operating Plans and Protocols: Housekeeping standards; sanitation and water supply compliance; guest safety and complaint procedures.
  • Montana Administrative Rules:
    • 37.111.1 Public Sleeping Accommodations (general rules for lodging facilities).
    • 37.111.3 Bed and Breakfast Establishments (if operating a B&B).
  • Montana Statutes (MCA):
    • Licensure & Regulation of Public Accommodation Establishments (50-51 MCA).
  • Safety and Health Documentation:
    • Smoke detectors and fire safety measures as required by state law and local codes.
    • Bed bug awareness materials and prevention protocols (state guidance available).
  • Guest Notice Materials: Posting requirements and informational handouts as required by Montana public accommodation rules.

No city- or county-specific license or tax documents were provided in the source content. If Glendive or Dawson County impose local business licenses, occupancy taxes, or zoning approvals, those must be obtained separately (confirm with local authorities).

Specific Regulations (City, County, and State)

  • State (Montana):
    • STRs are treated as “public sleeping accommodations.” Operators must comply with 37.111.1 and applicable parts of 37.111.3, and obtain licensure under 50-51 MCA.
    • Bed and breakfasts have additional specific rule requirements (37.111.3).
    • Plans are reviewed by county sanitarians; state advises contacting the local environmental health department for the property’s location.
  • County (Dawson County):
    • County sanitarians review plans and conduct inspections for public sleeping accommodations. Submit plan review to the county environmental health department where the property is located.
  • City (Glendive):
    • No city-specific STR rules were provided in the source content. Confirm with Glendive city authorities regarding business licensing, zoning, or local taxes.

Montana Landlord–Tenant and Lodging Notes Relevant to Operators

  • If renting all or part of an owner’s house, Montana’s Fair Housing exemptions limit discrimination rules: an owner renting no more than three rooms within their residence and residing therein is exempt from many discrimination prohibitions.
  • Montana does not restrict rent levels; however, retaliatory or discriminatory actions are prohibited.
  • Landlords must maintain fit and habitable premises and comply with safety requirements (e.g., smoke detectors). Tenants may have remedies for repairs and habitability issues.

Operators should differentiate between transient guest operations (public sleeping accommodations) and residential tenancy to ensure they apply the correct regulatory framework.

Key Contacts and Information

  • Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) — Environmental Health & Food Safety (Public Accommodations):
    • Website: dphhs.mt.gov/publichealth/EHFS/PublicAccommodations/index
    • Contact page: dphhs.mt.gov/publichealth/EHFS/Contact
    • Local environmental health departments: dphhs.mt.gov/publichealth/EHFS/countytribalhealthdepts
  • Plan Reviews and Local Enforcement:
    • Contact the county environmental health department/sanitarian where the property is located (Dawson County). Submit plan review applications and coordinate inspections through this office.

Sources (Provided Content and Official Links)

  • Public Accommodations — DPHHS: dphhs.mt.gov/publichealth/EHFS/PublicAccommodations/index
  • Public Sleeping Accommodations Rules (Web): rules.mt.gov/browse/collections/aec52c46-128e-4279-9068-8af5d5432d74/sections/9b58575d-b108-45be-aa19-131c5003f394
  • Public Sleeping Accommodations Rules (PDF): dphhs.mt.gov/assets/publichealth/FCS/PublicAccomodations/PublicAccommodationsRules2023.pdf
  • Bed and Breakfast Establishments (37.111.3): rules.mt.gov/browse/collections/aec52c46-128e-4279-9068-8af5d5432d74/sections/db1d8167-5f3d-4ead-86ab-06aa82aa4407
  • Licensure & Regulation of Public Accommodation Establishments (50-51 MCA): leg.mt.gov/bills/mca/title_0500/chapter_0510/parts_index.html
  • County Environmental Health Departments Listing: dphhs.mt.gov/publichealth/EHFS/countytribalhealthdepts

Compliance Checklist for Glendive STR Operators

  • Verify the property qualifies as a public sleeping accommodation under Montana rules.
  • Submit plan review to Dawson County sanitarian and obtain approval.
  • Apply for licensure/registration per Montana’s 50-51 MCA.
  • Implement operational procedures for sanitation, safety, housekeeping, and guest communications.
  • Maintain records and be ready for inspections; keep current with Montana rules (37.111.1; 37.111.3 if B&B).
  • Confirm local requirements (business licenses, zoning, taxes) with Glendive/Dawson County if any apply.

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Glendive

Market Saturation Score

036912
Low Saturation
1/ 12
months with declining YoY revenue
0–1 declining months: minimal saturation pressure — revenue trends are stable.
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Photos of Glendive

Overview of Glendive

Glendive is a small city in eastern Montana, serving as the county seat of Dawson County. With a population of roughly 5,000 residents, it has the feel of a working agricultural and railroad town with a strong sense of frontier heritage. The community sits along the Yellowstone River and is best known as a gateway to some of Montana's most striking badlands scenery, particularly Makoshika State Park, which draws visitors interested in paleontology, hiking, and wide-open vistas. The nearest major city is Billings, Montana's largest, located about 220 miles to the west along Interstate 94, a journey that takes roughly three and a half hours by car.

Just southeast of town, Makoshika State Park is the area's marquee draw and one of Montana's most distinctive state parks. Known for its eroded badlands formations, scattered petrified wood, and a notable concentration of dinosaur fossils, the park covers thousands of acres of rugged terrain with a network of scenic drives and short to moderate hiking trails. A visitors' center near the entrance offers interpretive exhibits about the region's paleontological past. From downtown Glendive, the main park entrance is only a short drive of about five to ten minutes, making it an easy day trip for travelers staying in the area.

The Yellowstone River itself, which winds through the heart of Glendive, is another defining feature of the region. The river is renowned for its catfish and paddlefish fisheries, and the public accesses near town draw anglers throughout the warmer months. Riverside walks and city parks along its banks give visitors a chance to enjoy the slow pace of the water and the high plains scenery without straying far from the center of town. The river's presence is one of the elements that gives Glendive its leafy, unhurried character despite the dry surrounding landscape.

History-minded travelers will also find smaller points of interest around town, including a local heritage museum that preserves artifacts from the region's homesteading, railroad, and ranching eras. The historic Bell Street Bridge area and the older downtown core offer a glimpse of the city's early twentieth-century architecture, while the nearby Little Missouri National Grassland, stretching south toward the North Dakota border, adds to the sense of open country that defines this corner of Montana.

Glendive appeals to short-term rental investors because it sits at a natural crossroads between outdoor adventure and small-town Montana character. Travelers passing through on I-94, fossil hunters heading to Makoshika, sportsmen chasing the Yellowstone River's fisheries, and road-trippers exploring the eastern Montana grasslands all need a comfortable place to stay, and the city's modest supply of lodging means well-placed short-term rentals can capture steady interest across a long summer tourist season.

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