Current permit-cap status, minimum-stay requirements, owner-occupancy rules, and jurisdiction breakdown for short-term rentals in Stowe. Every field is cited to a primary source below. Always verify the specific parcel with the operating jurisdiction before writing an offer.
The Town of Stowe adopted a rewritten Short-Term Rental Ordinance on July 22, 2026 that converts the prior registry into a licensing system, caps STR licenses at 850 town-wide effective September 15, 2026, freezes new non-resident licenses after May 1, and moves non-residents into a lottery once STR counts drop below 850.
Have a specific property in mind? Analyze it with a $99 report →Stowe transitioned from a light-touch registry to a hard-cap licensing regime in mid-2026. The 850-license cap took effect September 15, 2026; town data showed approximately 1,450 active STRs at adoption with roughly 600 categorized as commercial or inactive - so the cap requires attrition before new residents can obtain a license. License terms run May 1 - April 30 with $100/dwelling-unit registration fee plus renewal and lottery fees set by the selectboard. Escalating waiver fees ($100/$200/$300/$400 for 1st-4th+ offenses) and civil penalties ($200/$400/$600/$800) apply per violation. Non-residents face a hard freeze on new licenses after May 1, 2026; existing non-resident operators had until September 15 to register or fall into a lottery that only opens once the STR count drops below 850. A homestead exception favors Stowe residents. STR is defined as renting residential property for fewer than 30 consecutive days AND more than 14 days per year. Owners must designate a responsible person physically on-site within 45 minutes of an emergency call, install a fire-department-approved 24-hour lockbox, and display the registration number in all advertising. Buyers acquiring an existing STR should not assume the license transfers - Stowe licenses are property-specific and non-transferable in an ordinary sale. Lamoille County has no county-wide STR ordinance; Vermont Meals & Rooms Tax (9%) plus 1% local option tax and 3% Stowe local option meals & rooms tax apply.
Short-term rentals in Stowe are classified as restricted as of 2026-08-16. The Town of Stowe adopted a rewritten Short-Term Rental Ordinance on July 22, 2026 that converts the prior registry into a licensing system, caps STR licenses at 850 town-wide effective September 15, 2026, freezes new non-resident licenses after May 1, and moves non-residents into a lottery once STR counts drop below 850.
Yes, Stowe has a permit cap in place. Town of Stowe caps STR licenses at 850 town-wide effective September 15, 2026 (Selectboard adopted 5-0 on July 22, 2026). Non-resident freeze after May 1; existing non-resident operators had until September 15 to register or lose eligibility until the count drops below 850 and a lottery opens.
The primary source does not specify a minimum stay for short-term rentals in Stowe.
Stowe does not require owner-occupancy for short-term rental operators as of 2026-08-16. Verify the specific parcel with the operating jurisdiction before offering, as owner-occupancy rules interact with zoning overlays.
Contact the operating jurisdiction directly using the primary-source links published on this page. Zoning, HOA restrictions, and pending regulatory changes are parcel-specific and can override the citywide profile above. DepreciMax's $99 property report separately sizes the Year-1 §168(k) bonus depreciation deduction for a specific address, once regulatory clearance is confirmed.
Once you've verified the regulatory profile of a listing you're considering, run a $99 DepreciMax property report to size the actual Year-1 §168(k) bonus depreciation deduction. The report analyzes the listing photos to classify finishes as 5-year personal property, 15-year land improvements, or 39-year structural — producing a line-item estimate closely calibrated to a formal cost seg study.
Use the DepreciMax STR Regulations Database for the full top-50 market fleet — every market cited to a primary jurisdiction source, updated quarterly.
Not legal or tax advice. Short-term rental regulations change frequently and vary by parcel, zone, and HOA. The information on this page is a summary of publicly available primary sources as of 2026-08-16. Before acting — buying, listing, or operating a short-term rental in Stowe — verify current rules with the operating jurisdiction and consult a local attorney and CPA.