Do you need a permit to run an Airbnb in Stowe?

Yes. Stowe requires Short-Term Rental Registration, and the fee is $100. Short-term rentals are legal town-wide in Stowe, but any dwelling rented short-term for more than 14 days per calendar year must be registered with the town before renting ($100 per unit, renewed annually by April 30), have a Designated Responsible Person who can arrive in person within 45 minutes, and give the Fire Department 24/7 lockbox access. Guests pay a combined 13% in lodging taxes (9% Vermont rooms tax + 3% state STR surcharge + 1% Stowe local option tax), which Airbnb/Vrbo collect for platform bookings. The biggest looming restriction: amendments debated through mid-2026 (first reading May 13, 2026) would cap licenses at 850 and cut off non-primary-resident owners when properties sell, but they had not been adopted as of mid-July 2026. Always confirm current requirements with the city before operating.

How much does a short-term rental permit cost in Stowe?

The Short-Term Rental Registration fee in Stowe is $100, renewed annual. $100 per dwelling unit per year; each separately rented unit on the same property (e.g., a house and an ADU) requires its own registration and fee. Registration applies to units rented short-term (under 30 consecutive days) for more than 14 days per calendar year. One industry site claimed the fee rose to $400 effective Jan 1, 2026, but the Town's own STR page (April 2026 snapshot) still states the fee is $100 — the $400 figure appears to confuse the maximum waiver-fee penalty with the registration fee.

How to get a short-term rental permit in Stowe, VT (2026)

Stowe requires Short-Term Rental Registration — the fee is $100, renewed annual. Here's how to get and keep it.

Permit at a glance

Permit required	Yes
Permit name	Short-Term Rental Registration
Permit fee	$100
Renewal	Annual

Step by step

1
Confirm your property is eligible
Confirm the property's zoning allows short-term rentals. The current Registry Ordinance is a town-wide civil ordinance, not a zoning regulation — no zoning-district restrictions, owner-occupancy rules, unit caps, or night caps currently apply to STRs in Stowe. Pending 2026 amendments (not adopted as of mid-July 2026) would cap licenses at roughly 850, sunset non-resident owners' licenses when a property is sold (new non-resident buyers could not register), limit homestead residents to two STRs, and exempt Ski PUD/Resort PUD districts (e.g., Spruce Peak, Topnotch) and timeshares.
2
Apply for the Short-Term Rental Registration
Submit the Short-Term Rental Registration application to Stowe and pay the $100 fee. $100 per dwelling unit per year; each separately rented unit on the same property (e.g., a house and an ADU) requires its own registration and fee. Registration applies to units rented short-term (under 30 consecutive days) for more than 14 days per calendar year. One industry site claimed the fee rose to $400 effective Jan 1, 2026, but the Town's own STR page (April 2026 snapshot) still states the fee is $100 — the $400 figure appears to confuse the maximum waiver-fee penalty with the registration fee.
3
Register for occupancy taxes
Register to collect and remit the applicable lodging/occupancy taxes for Stowe. Some are collected automatically by the booking platform and some you may need to remit yourself.
4
Renew on schedule
The permit renews annual — set a reminder so it never lapses, since operating on an expired permit typically triggers fines.

STR rules change without warning.

Get an email the moment Stowe changes its short-term rental rules — plus renewal reminders before your permit expires.

Watch Stowe for changes →

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Verified July 13, 2026. Informational only — not legal, tax, or financial advice. Permit requirements and fees change; confirm current requirements with Stowe before applying.

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