Senate Bill No. [insert bill number] seeks to redefine short-term rental laws in Montana by classifying short-term rentals as a residential use of property, rather than a commercial use. The bill allows short-term rentals unless explicitly prohibited by zoning districts and mandates a thorough analysis when any restrictions are proposed, ensuring they align with public health, safety, and welfare. Key amendments include a revised definition of "short-term rental" to encompass various residential units and a modification of the "primary residence" definition, which now requires occupancy for at least seven months a year instead of the previous 183 days.

Additionally, the bill protects existing short-term rentals by designating them as legal nonconforming uses if they comply with state licensing and tax requirements at the time of new regulations' adoption. It prohibits zoning regulations from imposing fees or property dedications for housing aimed at specific income levels and requires governing bodies to justify any restrictions on short-term rentals based on safety and public health. The bill also ensures that existing short-term rentals cannot be further restricted by new regulations that were not in place before its effective date, thereby safeguarding property owners' rights to utilize their properties for short-term rentals.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 15-68-101, 76-2-104, 76-2-203, 76-2-303, 76-25-303
SB0336_1(1): 15-68-101, 76-2-104, 76-2-203, 76-2-303, 76-25-303
SB0336_1(2): 15-68-101, 76-2-104, 76-2-203, 76-2-303, 76-25-303
SB0336_1(3): 15-68-101, 76-2-104, 76-2-203, 76-2-303, 76-25-303
SB0336_1(4): 15-68-101, 76-2-104, 76-2-203, 76-2-303, 76-25-303
SB0336_1(5): 15-68-101, 76-2-104, 76-2-203, 76-2-303, 76-25-303
SB0336_1: 15-68-101, 76-2-104, 76-2-203, 76-2-303, 76-25-303
SB0336_2(1): 15-68-101, 76-2-104, 76-2-203, 76-2-303, 76-25-303
SB0336_2(10): 15-68-101, 76-2-104, 76-2-203, 76-2-303, 76-25-303
SB0336_2(11): 15-68-101, 76-2-104, 76-2-203, 76-2-303, 76-25-303
SB0336_2(2): 15-68-101, 76-2-104, 76-2-203, 76-2-303, 76-25-303
SB0336_2(3): 15-68-101, 76-2-104, 76-2-203, 76-2-303, 76-25-303
SB0336_2(4): 15-68-101, 76-2-104, 76-2-203, 76-2-303, 76-25-303
SB0336_2(5): 15-68-101, 76-2-104, 76-2-203, 76-2-303, 76-25-303
SB0336_2(6): 15-68-101, 76-2-104, 76-2-203, 76-2-303, 76-25-303
SB0336_2(7): 15-68-101, 76-2-104, 76-2-203, 76-2-303, 76-25-303
SB0336_2(8): 15-68-101, 76-2-104, 76-2-203, 76-2-303, 76-25-303
SB0336_2(9): 15-68-101, 76-2-104, 76-2-203, 76-2-303, 76-25-303
SB0336_2: 15-68-101, 76-2-104, 76-2-203, 76-2-303, 76-25-303