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Williston, North Dakota

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Williston

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Williston, ND

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STR Regulations for Williston, North Dakota

I notice there's a significant issue with the provided content. The first URL you shared contains a short-term rental ordinance for Williston, Vermont, not Williston, North Dakota. This content is not relevant to your request about Williston, ND regulations. I'll analyze only the content relevant to Williston, North Dakota and note where information is lacking.

Short-Term Rental Investment Guide for Williston, North Dakota

Overview: Are Short-Term Rentals Allowed in Williston, ND?

Yes, short-term rentals appear to be allowed in Williston, ND with currently low regulatory restrictions. Based on market analysis data, Williston presents a favorable environment for STR investors with fewer regulations compared to many other markets. The city has an active short-term rental market with 24 active listings as of 2025.

What do Airbnb hosts actually earn in Williston?

Williston hosts earn a median $24,814/year with $106 ADR and 75% occupancy.

Top performers pull in $33,988+ per year.

See the full Williston market breakdown →

How to Start a Short-Term Rental Business in Williston, ND

Market Overview

  • Active Listings: 24 properties
  • Average Daily Rate (ADR): $156
  • Occupancy Rate: 48.2%
  • Median Annual Revenue: $23,350
  • Revenue Growth: 14.7% year-over-year

Property Selection Strategy

Based on market data analysis:

Most Profitable Property Types:

  • Houses (45.8% of market) - strongest performer
  • 2-bedroom units (50% of market) - highest demand
  • 4-guest capacity properties (41.7% of market) - optimal size

Best Investment Areas:

  • Downtown Williston (access to amenities and events)
  • Areas near Williston State College (student/faculty housing)
  • Oil Patch region (corporate housing demand)
  • Lake Sakakawea area (recreational tourism)

Pricing Strategy

  • Peak Season: December, October, August (higher rates)
  • Shoulder Season: Balanced pricing approach
  • Low Season: November, January (competitive pricing)
  • Average booking lead time: 33 days

Required Documents, Permits, Licenses, and Guidelines

IMPORTANT FINDING: Based on the available municipal code content, specific short-term rental licensing requirements, permits, or dedicated STR regulations were not found in Williston's zoning ordinances or municipal code amendments listed. The city's regulatory framework appears to treat STRs as standard residential uses without specialized licensing.

General Requirements Likely Needed:

  1. Standard Business License (if operating as a business entity)
  2. Property Registration (if required for rental properties)
  3. Building/Safety Compliance (standard residential rental requirements)
  4. Tax Registration (for business income reporting)

Verification Recommended:

  • Contact City of Williston directly to confirm any STR-specific requirements
  • Verify zoning compliance for your specific property location
  • Check for any recent ordinance changes not captured in the amendments list

Specific Regulations for Short-Term Rentals

City-Level Regulations

Limited city-specific STR regulations found in the available municipal code. The extensive list of zoning ordinance amendments (66+ documents) shows active municipal governance but no dedicated short-term rental ordinances were identified in the provided content.

State-Level Regulations (North Dakota)

Note: No North Dakota state-specific short-term rental regulations were identified in the provided content. Standard state business and rental laws would apply.

Zoning Considerations

From the zoning ordinance amendments, potential relevant considerations include:

  • Residential zoning districts (R-1 through R-6) - likely where most STRs would operate
  • Downtown commercial zones - may have different requirements
  • Temporary use regulations - may impact STR operations
  • Accessory dwelling regulations - potentially applicable to STR arrangements

Contact Information for Local Authority

City of Williston - Planning & Zoning Department

Primary Contact:

  • Phone: (701) 577-8100
  • TTY: (800) 366-6888
  • Address:
    • City of Williston
    • PO Box 1306
    • Williston, ND 58802-1306

Planning & Zoning Department:

  • Website: Available through cityofwilliston.com/departments/planning_and_zoning/
  • Contact Page: cityofwilliston.com/departments/planning_and_zoning/contact_us.php
  • Business Licensing & Permits: Available through departments/finance_department/license_and_permit_applications.php

Additional Contacts:

  • Building Safety Department: departments/building_safety/
  • Code Enforcement: departments/building_safety/code_enforcement_complaint_form.php

Recommended Action Items:

  1. Call (701) 577-8100 to inquire about STR-specific requirements
  2. Contact Planning & Zoning for zoning compliance verification
  3. Check Building Safety for property standards
  4. Verify tax registration requirements through Finance Department

Source Pages

Legitimate Williston, ND Sources:

  • City of Williston Official Website
  • Planning & Zoning Department
  • Zoning Ordinance Amendments
  • City Ordinances
  • Business Licensing & Permits

Market Data Source:

  • AirROI Williston Market Report

Important Disclaimer

Excluded Content: The first URL provided (town.williston.vt.us) contained regulations for Williston, Vermont, which are not applicable to Williston, North Dakota and were excluded from this analysis.

Verification Required: Due to the lack of specific STR regulations found in the available municipal content, direct confirmation with city authorities is strongly recommended before proceeding with any short-term rental investment in Williston, ND.

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Williston

Market Saturation Score

036912
Moderate Saturation
5/ 12
months with declining YoY revenue
5–7 declining months: moderate saturation risk - market may be nearing capacity.
View Full Williston Market Analysis →

Photos of Williston

Overview of Williston

Williston is a city in and the county seat of Williams County, North Dakota, United States. The 2020 census gave its population as 29,160, making Williston the sixth-most populous city in North Dakota. The city's population nearly doubled between 2010 and 2020, due largely to the North Dakota oil boom. Williston's newspaper is the daily Williston Herald. Williston is the home of Williston State College and the Miss North Dakota Scholarship Pageant.

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