Oakes, North Dakota Short Term Rental Regulations Guide for Airbnb hosts

Overview: Are short-term rentals allowed in Oakes, ND?

Yes. Based on the city website content provided (oakesnd.com/city-hall), there are no explicit, city-specific short‑term rental (STR) ordinances, zoning bans, registration/licensing, or other restrictions identified for Oakes. In the absence of local restrictions, short‑term rentals are treated as lodging services and operate under North Dakota state law and standard tax/registration requirements.

What do Airbnb hosts actually earn in Oakes?

Oakes hosts earn a median $28,844/year with $131 ADR and 76% occupancy.

Top performers pull in $34,164+ per year.

See the full Oakes market breakdown

How to start a short‑term rental business in Oakes, ND

Confirm zoning and property use

Check whether your property is in a residential or commercial zoning district that permits lodging. Contact the City of Oakes (Zoning and Planning Commission) to verify that renting your property for fewer than 30 days is a permitted use on your parcel.

ND Secretary of State: If you will operate under a business name (d/b/a) or as a legal entity (LLC, corporation, etc.), register with the Secretary of State (online filing is available).
Local name filing: If you use a business name not registered at the state level, consider filing a local “Doing Business As” (DBA) with City Hall.

Obtain a sales tax permit and set up tax remittance

ND Tax Commissioner: Register to collect and remit sales tax (and local gross receipts taxes). Short‑term rentals are taxable lodging services in ND.
You will need to collect applicable sales tax and any local lodging taxes and file returns with the ND Tax Commissioner. Confirm the current local combined rate (state, county, and city) for Oakes.

Comply with general municipal/business requirements

If you engage in door‑to‑door solicitation or transient business activities, review Oakes’ Transient Merchant License Application.
Verify whether any building, occupancy, or fire inspections are required for lodging use; obtain building permits as needed for any alterations.
Maintain current pet licensing if required (for your own pets) and be aware of local ordinances (noise, trash, parking) that may apply to rentals.

Insurance and risk management

Obtain liability insurance appropriate for lodging operations (consider coverage comparable to $1M+).
Review your homeowners or landlord policy and consider short‑term rental rider or umbrella coverage.

Listing and compliance

List your property on platforms (Airbnb, VRBO, etc.) only after confirming zoning and tax setup.
Use compliant leases/short‑term rental agreements; include house rules, occupancy limits, and quiet hours.

Ongoing compliance

File and remit sales tax by the ND Tax Commissioner’s deadlines.
Monitor city/county/state communications; if Oakes adopts new STR regulations, update your registrations and processes accordingly.

Required documents, permits, licenses, and guidelines

Business registration
- ND Secretary of State (entity formation/registration, if applicable)
- Local DBA filing with City Hall (if using a business name not registered with the state)
Sales tax and lodging tax
- Sales Tax Permit (ND Tax Commissioner)
- ND combined sales tax registration for lodging services
- Local lodging tax registration and collection procedures (as required)
Building, occupancy, and safety
- Building Permit (if performing construction or significant alterations)
- Any required occupancy or fire inspections
Municipal business licensing (if applicable)
- Transient Merchant License Application (only if door‑to‑door solicitation is part of your business model)
Zoning approval/verification
- Zoning verification from the City of Oakes Zoning and Planning Commission
Insurance
- Lodging liability insurance coverage

Specific regulations: City, County, and State

City of Oakes (city level)
- The Oakes city website does not provide explicit short‑term rental ordinances, zoning restrictions, or special lodging licenses for STRs. City Hall provides links to “City Ordinances” and “Zoning and Planning Commission,” but the underlying documents and any STR-related restrictions were not included in the content provided.
- Municipal services information (City Hall contact page) and the “City Forms & Info” page list business forms (including a Transient Merchant License Application), but no STR-specific permit is identified.
- Action item: Contact City Hall or the Zoning and Planning Commission to confirm that lodging use is permitted on your specific parcel and to check for any applicable city business registrations or future STR rules.
Dickey County (county level)
- No county-specific STR ordinances or licensing requirements were identified in the provided content. If county-level requirements are later adopted, they could include lodging permits or taxes in unincorporated areas.
State of North Dakota
- Short‑term rentals are subject to sales tax and any local gross receipts taxes as lodging services. Hosts must obtain a sales tax permit and file returns with the ND Tax Commissioner.
- Business registration/formation is required for business names and legal entities via the ND Secretary of State.
- North Dakota does not impose a statewide ban on short‑term rentals; municipalities may adopt their own local regulations (e.g., registration, zoning, caps, safety inspections). Since Oakes does not publish STR-specific rules in the provided content, investors should comply at the state level and monitor the city for any future local ordinances.

Contact information (local authority in charge of STRs)

City of Oakes – City Hall
- Phone: 701‑742‑2137
- City Hall contact page: oakesnd.com/city-contact.php
- Zoning and Planning Commission: see city departments page (site navigation includes a link to “Zoning and Planning Commission”)
ND Secretary of State – Business Registration
- Website: sos.nd.gov
ND Tax Commissioner – Sales Tax Permits and Lodging Tax
- Website: www.tax.nd.gov

Links to source pages

City Hall landing page: oakesnd.com/city-hall
City Departments (includes Zoning and Planning Commission link): oakesnd.com/city-departments
City Forms & Info: oakesnd.com/city-forms
City Ordinances: oakesnd.com/city-ordinances
Transient Merchant License Application (PDF): oakesnd.com/image3/files/5ed637b4b5bfae46040bcd2238b3db719f1f65c2.pdf
ND Secretary of State (business registration): sos.nd.gov
ND Tax Commissioner (sales tax permits and filing): www.tax.nd.gov

Important notes for investors

The provided city website content does not identify local STR bans, caps, or registration requirements. Treat STRs as permitted lodging unless the Zoning and Planning Commission indicates otherwise.
North Dakota treats STRs as lodging services for tax purposes. Obtain a sales tax permit before listing and collect/remit all applicable taxes.
Verify current tax rates and any local lodging taxes directly with the ND Tax Commissioner; rates may change over time.
If Oakes adopts STR ordinances in the future (e.g., registration, inspections, zoning limits), comply immediately and update your business processes.

Disclaimer: This guide summarizes available information from the provided Oakes city website content. For definitive compliance, contact City Hall and the ND Tax Commissioner and consult legal counsel as needed.

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Ask the AI Advisor about Oakes

Oakes is a small farming city in Dickey County, in the southeastern corner of North Dakota, with a population of approximately 1,700 residents. The community sits amid the rolling prairie and agricultural land that defines this part of the Northern Plains, and it functions as a quiet service hub for the surrounding ranch and farm country. Travelers appreciate Oakes for its unhurried pace, its wide horizons, and its convenient position as a gateway to the wider region, sitting between two larger regional centers: Aberdeen, South Dakota, roughly 60 miles to the south, and Fargo, North Dakota, approximately 100 miles to the north and east.

About 60 miles south of Oakes, the city of Aberdeen, South Dakota, offers one of the region's most popular family destinations in Wylie Park. The park is home to Storybook Land, a storybook-themed attraction that has been a regional draw for generations, along with the adjoining lake, campgrounds, and the Wylie Park Zoo. It is a popular day trip for families staying in the area and gives short-term rental guests an easy reason to extend their visit.

Roughly 90 miles north of Oakes, Jamestown, North Dakota, is home to the National Buffalo Museum and the adjacent Frontier Village, a living-history complex featuring pioneer-era buildings and a herd of bison that often graze the nearby pastures. The area is also known for the World's Largest Buffalo Monument, a concrete sculpture that has stood along Interstate 94 since the early 1960s, and offers a strong introduction to the prairie heritage of the Northern Plains.

The prairie landscape surrounding Oakes is itself a draw for visitors interested in birdwatching, big-sky photography, and the open road. The region lies within the Prairie Pothole Region, an area of glacially formed wetlands that supports an extraordinary diversity of migratory waterfowl, and the rural roads around town offer a peaceful alternative to busier tourist corridors. Small town parks, local diners, and a genuine sense of community round out the everyday experience for guests who prefer a quieter stay.

Oakes is a compelling base for short-term rentals because it offers the affordable, unhurried character of a small prairie town while placing guests within easy driving distance of two regional hubs and several well-known family attractions. Visitors looking for a slower pace, dark night skies, and an authentic feel for the agricultural heart of the Northern Plains will find the area rewarding, and the proximity to Aberdeen, Jamestown, and the wider prairie landscape ensures that a stay in Oakes can be both restful and full of day-trip possibilities.