Big Sky, Montana Short Term Rental Regulations

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Reviewed by Karolyn Hutson

Last updated August 23, 2023

Big Sky Short-Term Rental Regulations

Information is maintained by the community to provide helpful insights and links to local regulations, HostScouts does not provide legal or investment advice.

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  • Short Term City Rating
    4.1
  • Competition

    2.7
  • Real Estate Cost

    2.0
  • STR Regulations

    N/A
  • Seasonality

    2.1
  • Rental Rates

    9.7

Big Sky, Montana Quick Stats

Short-term rentals have gained a lot of traction in the last few years. The trends and statistics of this sector are constantly changing, and having access to accurate data is essential for making sound investment decisions.

Population
2,308
STR License Required
No
Tourist Season
County
Gallatin
Airports
Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport (BZN)
Yellowstone Airport (WYS)
Review our Big Sky Montana short-term rental analytics guide, including rates, property types and other metrics

Want to learn more about Big Sky?

Hostscouts has you covered. Our guides for this city cover topics that can help you research cities across the US quickly and easily.

Check out our Big Sky rental analytics guide if you're interested in data on the Big Sky rental market.

City Activities

Review the popular activities that hosts include in their property positing in Big Sky.

City Attractions

The most popular local and regional landmarks hosts usually include in their Airbnb or Vrbo property listings.

Big Sky Rental Rates & Fees

Explore nightly rates that hosts list their properties and the average fees for pets and additional guests.

Property Types & Sizes

What are the most popular property sizes for rent? Research whether a 1, 2, or 3 bedroom best fits Big Sky guests.

Interested in other Montana cities?

Check out the Montana short term rental regulations directory 

What makes Big Sky a great place to invest?

  • World-class skiing and snowboarding: Big Sky Resort, home to the "Biggest Skiing in America," boasts over 5,800 acres of skiable terrain spread across four connected mountains. With an average annual snowfall of more than 400 inches, visitors can enjoy thrilling downhill runs, snowboarding parks, and well-maintained cross-country skiing trails during the winter months.
  • Yellowstone National Park: Located just an hour's drive away, Big Sky serves as an ideal gateway to the world-renowned Yellowstone National Park. Visitors can explore the park's diverse ecosystem, witness its famous geysers, including Old Faithful, and encounter a variety of wildlife such as bison, elk, and bears in their natural habitats.
  • Picturesque hiking and mountain biking: Big Sky offers a vast network of trails for all skill levels, providing ample opportunities for hiking, mountain biking, and trail running during the warmer months. Popular trails include Beehive Basin, Ousel Falls, and Lone Mountain Loop, each offering breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains and valleys.
  • Fly-fishing and whitewater rafting: The Gallatin River, a Blue Ribbon Trout Stream, flows through Big Sky, providing world-class fly-fishing experiences. Anglers can cast a line in the hopes of catching brown, rainbow, and cutthroat trout, while adrenaline seekers can embark on thrilling whitewater rafting adventures through the river's scenic canyons.
  • Cultural attractions and events: Big Sky is more than just a hub for outdoor enthusiasts. The community is home to the Warren Miller Performing Arts Center, which hosts a variety of concerts, theater productions, and film screenings throughout the year. Additionally, visitors can enjoy the annual Big Sky Big Grass music festival, the Big Sky PBR (Professional Bull Riders) event, and the Vine & Dine culinary festival.

Big Sky Nearby Cities

Local Real Estate

How expensive is the real estate in Big Sky?

The cost of real estate can vary widely depending on the location, size, and features of the property, as well as market conditions. The median home value in Big Sky has decreased -7% over the past year, and the average price per square foot is $668, which is higher than the national average.

Median Sale Price

$2,742,500

-7% YoY

Median per Square Foot

$668

-5% YoY

Property Descriptions

The most common terms hosts include in their listings for Big Sky, Montana

Word Cloud for Big Sky, Montana Short Term Rentals

Common terms for Big Sky short term rental listings.

When potential guests are scrolling through listings on Airbnb, they’re looking for certain essential information to help them decide if your property is the right fit for their needs. As a host, ensuring that your listing includes all the relevant information that guests will be looking for is vital.

Some of the must-have elements of a property description include:

  • Location: Guests will want to know where your property is located in relation to popular attractions, public transportation, and other points of interest.
  • Amenities: What amenities does your property offer? Be sure to list all features guests can access, such as a pool, hot tub, parking, etc.
  • Informative: The average listing in Big Sky has a description approximately 3,039 words long. Make sure yours is long enough to describe your property but doesn't require your potential guest to read a novel.

After reviewing more than 1,489 listings in Big Sky, we've consolidated the most common terms on the word cloud. The larger text represents a term that is used more often. The top ten mentioned terms are Big Sky, Ski, Hot tub, Sky Resort, Summer, Main level, Winter, Yellowstone National, Deck, and View.

What are the most popular tourist activities in Big Sky?

Whether renting a house, an apartment, or a room, you should include popular tourist activities in your posting. The most common choices mentioned on property listings in Big Sky involve Snow Skiing, Hiking, Snowboarding, Cross Country Skiing, and Wildlife Viewing. When you write your listing, have a section with recommended activities near the property to give your guests an idea of what is available.

Snow Skiing

Hiking

Snowboarding

Cross Country Skiing

Wildlife Viewing

Sledding

Horseback Riding

Snowmobiling

Rafting

Mountain Climbing

Ice Skating

Rock Climbing

Local Attractions

What attractions do hosts highlight to guests?

There are quite a few popular attractions in Big Sky, including Big Sky Resort, Big Sky Town Center, Gallatin National Forest, . Below we've included the most popular local and regional landmarks hosts usually include in their Airbnb or Vrbo property listings. Many hosts like to show off lesser-known regional landmarks visitors might not have heard of.

Well Known Attraction

Big Sky Resort

Included on nearly all listings

Regional Landmark

Big Sky Town Center

Included on nearly all listings

Local Landmark

Gallatin National Forest

Included on nearly all listings

What’s the weather like in Big Sky, Montana?

The weather is generally milder than the national average, with an average high temperature of around 45°, while the average low is about 22°. It has normal rainfall, averaging about 7 inches per year, compared to the national average of about 27 inches. Snowfall can be rather heavy, averaging less than 62 inches per year. The humidity levels in Big Sky are generally lower than the national average, and the city tends to be a bit cloudy for most of the year.

Winter

December through February

Low 23° High

Precipitation
0.0"
Snowfall
20.8"
Muggy Days
0.0 days
Cloudiness
61%

Spring

March through May

21° Low 43° High

Precipitation
2.1"
Snowfall
24.5"
Muggy Days
0.0 days
Cloudiness
59%

Summer

June through August

38° Low 68° High

Precipitation
3.7"
Snowfall
2.1"
Muggy Days
0.0 days
Cloudiness
30%

Fall

September through November

23° Low 46° High

Precipitation
1.6"
Snowfall
14.4"
Muggy Days
0.0 days
Cloudiness
45%