A Public Sleeping Accommodation is a business that provides sleeping quarters to guests for compensation where linen service or housekeeping services are provided by management, or by guests under the direct supervision of management.

Examples include:

  • Tourist Homes / Short-Term Rentals
  • Hotels
  • Motels
  • Rooming Houses

Public Sleeping Accommodations Basics:

“Sleeping accommodation” means the provision of sleeping quarters where the linen service or housekeeping service are provided by management or by the guests under the direct supervision of management. Sleeping accommodation does not include a place of residency subject to the Residential Landlord and Tenant Act of 1977, Title 70, chapter 24, MCA.

“Establishment” means a facility providing sleeping accommodations to the public, such as a hotel, motel, tourist home, or rooming house, including boarding house, hostel, or vacation rental. For the purpose of this subchapter, establishment does not include a “bed and breakfast,” “guest ranch,” or “outfitting and guide facility.”

Click here for additional definitions for Public Sleeping Accommodations. 

Path to Licensure:

Step 1: Determine Your Facility Type – Determine whether your operation is a Tourist Home, Rooming House, Hotel, Motel, or Bed and Breakfast. 

Step 2: Gather Required Documentation – Gather any required documentation, including information related to water, wastewater, fire inspections, and property ownership. 

Step 3: Submit an Application – Submit a complete application and applicable fees to the Gallatin City-County Health Department. 

Step 4: Application Review – The Gallatin City-County Health Department will review the application and may request additional information. 

Step 5: Complete Any Required Corrections – Address any deficiencies identified during the review process. 

Step 6: Complete a Pre-Operational Inspection – A pre-operational inspection must be completed and approved prior to operation. 

Step 7: Receive Your License – Once all requirements have been met, the Gallatin City-County Health Department will issue your license. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. Public Sleeping Accommodations must be licensed by the Gallatin City-County Health Department prior to operation. 

Generally, no. Long-term residential rentals that are regulated under Montana's Residential Landlord and Tenant Act are not considered Public Sleeping Accommodations. 

Public Sleeping Accommodation licenses are typically required when sleeping accommodations are provided to transient guests for short-term stays. 

If you are unsure whether your rental operation requires licensure, please contact our office before operating. 

Tourist Home / Short-Term Rental 

You may be operating a Tourist Home if: 

  • You rent an entire home, condominium, cabin, or dwelling unit to guests. 
  • Guests typically stay for less than 30 days. 
  • The owner or manager does not stay in the dwelling unit with the guests. 

If the owner or manager resides on-site, the guest accommodations must have a separate entrance from the owner's living quarters to qualify as a Tourist Home. 

Rooming House 

You may be operating a Rooming House if: 

  • You rent individual sleeping rooms rather than an entire dwelling unit. 
  • Three or more individuals occupy the building. 
  • Occupants share common areas such as bathrooms, living rooms, or kitchens. 

Hotel or Motel 

You may be operating a Hotel or Motel if: 

  • You provide sleeping accommodations to transient guests for a fee. 
  • The establishment is operated as a commercial lodging business. 
  • Rooms are rented on a daily or weekly basis. 

Bed and Breakfast 

You may be operating a Bed and Breakfast if: 

  • You live in the home as the owner or manager. 
  • Breakfast is included in the room charge. 
  • The establishment serves no more than 18 guests per day. 

If you are unsure which license type applies to your operation, please contact our office before submitting an application. 

No. The Gallatin City-County Health Department does not regulate long-term residential rental agreements governed by Montana's Residential Landlord and Tenant Act. 

Questions regarding lease agreements, rent disputes, security deposits, evictions, maintenance responsibilities, and other landlord-tenant matters should be directed to the appropriate legal resources or agencies. 

GCCHD regulates Public Sleeping Accommodations, such as Tourist Homes, Rooming Houses, Hotels, Motels, and Bed and Breakfasts. 

Licensing and Applications FAQs

Yes. If you rent a home, condominium, or other dwelling unit to transient guests for periods of less than 30 days, a Public Sleeping Accommodation license is generally required. 

This includes properties advertised through Airbnb, VRBO, and similar short-term rental platforms. 

Yes. Advertising a property for short-term rental through Airbnb, VRBO, or similar platforms does not exempt the property from licensing requirements. 

If the rental meets the definition of a Public Sleeping Accommodation, a license is required. 

Yes. Renting sleeping accommodations to guests may require licensure as a Public Sleeping Accommodation depending on how the property is operated. 

Please contact our office if you are unsure which license type applies to your operation. 

Call 406-582-3120 or email ehs@gallatin.mt.gov

The Gallatin City-County Health Department has up to 30 days to review a complete application and supporting documentation. 

Incomplete applications or applications missing required information may take longer to review and may result in requests for additional information before the review can be completed. 

No. Applications are reviewed in the order they are received. Expedited reviews are not available. No. Applications are reviewed in the order they are received. Expedited reviews are not available. 

The application fee for a Public Sleeping Accommodation is $294.00. 

This fee includes: 

  • Application review 
  • One pre-operational inspection ($126.00) 

Additional fees may apply if additional inspections are required before the establishment can be approved and licensed.

No. A Public Sleeping Accommodation may not operate or accept guests until all required approvals have been obtained and the licensing process has been completed. 

No. Public Sleeping Accommodation licenses are owner-specific and location-specific and may not be transferred to another owner or location. 

Public Sleeping Accommodation licenses are owner-specific and are not transferable to a new owner. 

If ownership changes, the new owner must submit a Minor Plan Review Application and obtain approval before operating the establishment. 

Bed & Breakfast FAQs

No. Bed and Breakfast establishments are regulated under a separate set of rules and are not required to obtain a Retail Food License solely for serving breakfast to their guests. 

Providing breakfast is part of the operation of a licensed Bed and Breakfast establishment. However, additional food service activities beyond those allowed under Bed and Breakfast regulations may require a separate Retail Food License. 

This includes properties advertised through Airbnb, VRBO, and similar short-term rental platforms. 

Yes. An establishment preparing or serving food that meets the definition of a Retail Food Establishment under 50-50-102, MCA, must obtain a separate Retail Food License. 

Even if the food service is limited to a continental breakfast provided to guests, a Retail Food License is generally required. 

Fire and Life Safety FAQs

Yes. A fire inspection is required as part of the licensing process for most Public Sleeping Accommodations. 

If the local fire authority provides fire inspections in your area, you must obtain an inspection from that agency. 

If a fire authority does not provide inspections in your area, you may submit a Self Fire Inspection Form as part of your application process. 

Please note that questions regarding fire safety requirements should be directed to your local fire department or the Montana State Fire Marshal's Office, as those agencies are responsible for interpreting and enforcing fire safety regulations. 

If your property is located outside of city limits and you are unable to obtain a fire inspection from the local fire authority, you may submit a Self Fire Inspection Form as part of your application process. 

The Self Fire Inspection Form can be found in the Forms and Applications section of our website. 

Please note that questions regarding fire safety requirements should be directed to your local fire department or the Montana State Fire Marshal's Office. 

Water and Wastewater FAQs

Yes. If your Tourist Home is served by a private well, water testing results must be submitted as part of the application process. 

At a minimum, the well must be tested for: 

  • Total Coliform Bacteria 
  • E. coli 
  • Nitrates

If your property is located outside of city limits and you are unable to obtain a fire inspection from the local fire authority, you may submit a Self Fire Inspection Form as part of your application process. 

The Self Fire Inspection Form can be found in the Forms and Applications section of our website. 

Please note that questions regarding fire safety requirements should be directed to your local fire department or the Montana State Fire Marshal's Office. 

No. Water samples submitted as part of a Public Sleeping Accommodation application must be analyzed by an accredited laboratory. 

Home test kits are not accepted because they do not provide the certified results needed to verify compliance with water quality requirements. 

Yes. A private well used to supply water to a Public Sleeping Accommodation, such as a Tourist Home, must meet the requirements of Circular FCS 1-2016. 

Please refer to the Regulations section of our website for additional information. 

Please refer to our Septic (Wastewater Treatment) [link] page for information regarding septic permits, wastewater records, and wastewater system searches. 

Yes. As part of the application process, GCCHD must verify that the property has an approved wastewater treatment system that is adequately sized for the proposed use. 

Please refer to our Septic (Wastewater Treatment) [link] page for information regarding septic permits, wastewater records, and wastewater system searches. 

Types of Public Sleeping Accommodations

A Tourist Home is a private home, condominium, or other dwelling unit that is rented, leased, or furnished in its entirety to transient guests on a daily or weekly basis. 

A Tourist Home is not occupied by the owner or manager while guests are staying in the unit. 

Tourist Homes are licensed as Public Sleeping Accommodations and must comply with applicable state and local regulations. 

A Rooming House is a building where separate sleeping rooms are rented to three or more individuals on a weekly, semi-monthly, monthly, or permanent basis. 

Rooming houses may provide meals or access to a shared kitchen; however, individual sleeping rooms do not contain separate cooking facilities or kitchens. 

Individuals renting rooms in a rooming house must not require professional nursing or personal-care services provided by the facility. 

Rooming houses are licensed as Public Sleeping Accommodations and must comply with applicable state and local regulations. 

A Hotel or Motel is a business that provides sleeping accommodations to transient guests for a fee, with or without meals. 

Hotels and motels are licensed as Public Sleeping Accommodations and must comply with applicable state and local regulations. 

A Bed and Breakfast is a private residence that is occupied by the owner or manager and used as their primary residence. 

A Bed and Breakfast: 

  • Serves breakfast to guests as part of the room charge; and 
  • Serves no more than 18 guests per day. 

Bed and Breakfast establishments are licensed as Public Sleeping Accommodations and may be subject to additional requirements. 

Applications and Resources

Looking for a different license?

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Retail Food

Wholesale Food

Cottage Food License

Farmers Markets

Temporary Food Events

Public Pools and Spas

Public Sleeping Accommodations

Bed and Breakfasts

*Coming Soon!*

Trailer Courts, Campgrounds, Work Camps, and Youth Camps

Body Art

Child Care Facilities

Questions?

If you have questions regarding public sleeping accommodations, please contact the Gallatin City-County Health Department Environmental Health Division. 

Please note: Approval by GCCHD does not constitute approval under all other applicable federal, state, local, zoning, building, fire, business licensing, labeling, or land use requirements. Operators are responsible for obtaining all other required approvals and permits. 

Contact Us:

Call: 406-582-3120
Email: ehs@gallatin.mt.gov

Temporary Office Location:

400 E. Babcock Street, Bozeman