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Williston, ND

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STR Regulations for Williston, North Dakota

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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 $23,084/year with $112 ADR and 74% occupancy.

Top performers pull in $34,019+ 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:

Market Data Source:

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
High Saturation
8/ 12
months with declining YoY revenue
8–10 declining months: high saturation - supply likely outpacing demand.
View Full Williston Market Analysis

Photos of Williston

Overview of Williston

Williston is the county seat of Williams County in the far northwestern corner of North Dakota, just a short drive from the Montana border. With a population of roughly 29,000, it has grown from a quiet prairie town into a busy energy-services hub thanks to the nearby Bakken oil play, giving it a working, can-do atmosphere that mixes small-town friendliness with the bustle of a regional commercial center. The city is best known as a gateway to the oilfields of the upper Great Plains and to the rolling badlands and river country of western North Dakota. The nearest sizable city is Minot, about 125 miles to the east, while larger metropolitan options such as Bismarck lie roughly three and a half hours to the southeast by car.

About 25 miles west of Williston, near the confluence of the Missouri and Yellowstone rivers, Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site preserves and reconstructs the largest and longest-operating fur-trading post on the upper Missouri. Operated by the National Park Service, the site features an interpretive center, the restored Bourgeois House and other trade-house foundations, costumed demonstrations, and a glimpse into the nineteenth-century world of the Assiniboine, Crow, Cree, and other Plains peoples who traded here. It is an easy half-hour drive from town and pairs naturally with a broader drive along the Lewis and Clark Trail.

Roughly an hour south of Williston, the Theodore Roosevelt National Park North Unit offers a quieter alternative to the park's more famous South Unit near Medora. A scenic drive winds through the painted canyons of the Little Missouri River, with regular opportunities to spot bison, pronghorn, and prairie dogs along the roadside. Roosevelt famously ranched in these badlands as a young man, and the rugged, sun-bleached landscape still feels much as he described it in his memoirs. Short trails and river overlooks make the unit an easy day trip, and the small gateway community of Watford City lies just beyond its southern boundary.

To the north and east of Williston stretches Lake Sakakawea, one of the largest man-made reservoirs in the United States and a year-round recreational anchor for the region. Created by the Garrison Dam on the Missouri River, the lake supports walleye, northern pike, and chinook salmon fishing, along with boating, swimming, and ice fishing in winter. Public access points and small marinas dot the southern shoreline, giving visitors a chance to experience the wide-open water and big-sky views that define this part of the Northern Plains.

For short-term rental investors, Williston offers a distinctive combination of long-term energy-sector demand and tourism traffic flowing through to some of the most distinctive landscapes in the Dakotas. Its location at the crossroads of the Bakken, the upper Missouri, and the Roosevelt badlands makes it a practical base for both business travelers and vacationers exploring western North Dakota and eastern Montana, while the relatively sparse supply of modern lodging in the surrounding countryside gives well-positioned rentals a steady stream of potential guests throughout the year.

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