Mountain View, Arkansas Short Term Rental Regulations Guide for Airbnb hosts

Overview: Are Short-Term Rentals Allowed in Mountain View, AR?

Short-term rentals are allowed in Mountain View, Arkansas, but operate within a framework of zoning regulations and business requirements rather than dedicated STR ordinances. Unlike some cities with specific Airbnb regulations, Mountain View relies on its comprehensive zoning code to govern lodging activities. The city treats short-term rentals under existing categories such as "hotels," "bed and breakfast inns," "boarding houses," and general commercial uses, depending on the property type and operation model.

Key Point: There is no dedicated short-term rental license or permit system in Mountain View. Instead, hosts must comply with zoning requirements, business licensing, and tax obligations that apply to lodging businesses.

What do Airbnb hosts actually earn in Mountain View?

Mountain View hosts earn a median $18,382/year with $148 ADR and 42% occupancy.

Top performers pull in $28,379+ per year.

See the full Mountain View market breakdown

How to Start a Short-Term Rental Business in Mountain View, AR

Step 1: Determine Your Zoning Compliance

Mountain View's zoning code governs where lodging operations can legally operate:

Permitted STR Operations by Zone:

R-2 (Moderate Density Residential): Bed and breakfast inns and boarding houses are permitted uses
DC (Downtown Commercial): Hotels are permitted uses
GC (General Commercial): Hotels and lodging facilities are permitted
TC (Tourist Commercial): Motels, cabins, and tourist-oriented lodging are permitted uses
R-1 (Low Density Residential): Limited to home occupations; full STR operations would likely require conditional use approval

Step 2: Verify Property Compliance

Confirm your property is in an appropriate zoning district
Review setback requirements, height limitations, and lot coverage restrictions
Ensure adequate parking (varies by use type - see parking requirements below)

Step 3: Business Registration

Register with the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration for tax purposes
Obtain any required city business license (contact city clerk for requirements)
Consider LLC or other business structure for liability protection

Step 4: Tax Registration and Compliance

Register for Arkansas sales tax (6.5% state rate typically applies to lodging)
Set up systems for tax collection and remittance
Maintain detailed records of all rental income and expenses

Required Documents, Permits, Licenses, and Guidelines

Business Registration

Arkansas Sales Tax Account: Required for collecting and remitting state sales tax on lodging (register through Arkansas Taxpayer Access Point - ATAP)
City Business License: May be required - contact Mountain View City Clerk's office to confirm current requirements

Zoning Compliance

Conditional Use Permit: Required if operating in zones where lodging is only conditionally permitted
Site Plan Approval: May be required showing parking, setbacks, and compliance with zoning standards
Building Permits: Required for any construction, renovation, or structural modifications

Operational Guidelines

Parking Compliance: Must meet off-street parking requirements based on use type:
- Bed & Breakfast: 1 space for proprietor + 1 per sleeping room + 1 per 4 employees
- Hotels/Motels: 1 space per sleeping unit + 2 spaces per 3 employees
Fire and Safety Compliance: Must meet all applicable building and fire codes
Signage Compliance: Subject to zoning district signage requirements

Specific Regulations for Short-Term Rentals

Mountain View Zoning Regulations

Allowed STR Operations by District:

R-2 (Moderate Density Residential):

Bed and breakfast inns: Permitted use
Boarding houses: Permitted use
Multi-family structures up to 10 units: Permitted use
Must meet residential density and parking requirements

DC (Downtown Commercial):

Hotels: Permitted use
Loft apartments or upper-floor residential: Conditional use
High lot coverage (85%) permitted
Minimal setback requirements

GC (General Commercial):

Hotels and lodging facilities: Permitted use
Owner-occupied residential units within commercial structures: Permitted (not predominant use)
Maximum lot coverage: 85%
Front setbacks: 40-75 feet depending on parking configuration

TC (Tourist Commercial):

Motels, cabins, tourist facilities: Permitted use
Designed specifically for tourist-oriented lodging
RV parks permitted with special requirements
Minimum 3-acre requirement for RV parks

Parking Requirements by Use Type

Lodging Operations Must Provide:

Bed & Breakfast: 1 space for owner/proprietor + 1 space per sleeping room + 1 space per 4 employees
Hotels/Motels: 1 space per sleeping/dwelling unit + 2 spaces per 3 employees
Boardin Houserooms: 1 space for proprietor + 1 space per sleeping room + 1 space per 4 employees

Operational Restrictions

Noise and Nuisance: Subject to general city noise ordinances and nuisance regulations
Occupancy Limits: Must comply with building and fire code occupancy restrictions
Length of Stay: No specific time limits specified in zoning code
Business Operations: Commercial activities must be consistent with zoning district character

Arkansas State-Level Regulations

Tax Requirements:

State Sales Tax: 6.5% applies to short-term lodging
Local Add-On Taxes: Cities/counties may impose additional lodging taxes (1-4% typical range)
Filing Frequency: Monthly, quarterly, or annual filing based on revenue volume
Registration: Required through Arkansas DFA if not using platform that collects/remits taxes

State Preemption:

No statewide STR license requirement
Cities have broad authority to regulate through zoning and business licensing
2025 legislative session includes bills limiting cities' STR restrictions (monitor for updates)

Contact Information

Mountain View City Government

City Hall: (870) 269-3255 Planning Department: Contact through City Hall City Clerk: Contact through City Hall Mayor and City Council: Contact through City Hall

Address: City of Mountain View 210 W Main St Mountain View, AR 72560

Website: www.cityofmtnview.org

County Government (Stone County)

County Judge's Office: (870) 269-3515 Planning/Zoning: Contact County Judge's Office

State Agencies

Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration (DFA) Tax Registration: (501) 682-7104 Website: www.dfa.arkansas.gov Online Registration: Arkansas Taxpayer Access Point (ATAP)

Relevant State Legislature Information

Monitor Arkansas General Assembly for STR-related legislation Website: www.arkleg.state.ar.us

Links to Source Pages

Primary Sources

Mountain View Zoning Code: www.cityofmtnview.org/plugins/show_image.php?id=367
- Complete zoning regulations including lodging uses, parking requirements, and operational standards
Arkansas Short-Term Rental Laws (RedAwning): www.redawning.com/pm/post/arkansas-short-term-rental-laws
- State-level tax requirements and general business registration information
Arkansas STR Legislation News: www.arkansasonline.com/news/2025/feb/12/house-panel-approves-short-term-rental-bill-by-a/
- Current legislative developments affecting local STR regulations

Important Notes for STR Investors

Zoning Compliance is Critical: Mountain View's zoning code provides the primary regulatory framework. Investors must verify property zoning before purchasing or listing.

No Dedicated STR Ordinance: Unlike cities with specific Airbnb regulations, Mountain View relies on existing zoning categories, making compliance more straightforward but requiring careful property selection.

Tourist Focus: The Tourist Commercial (TC) district is specifically designed for lodging that serves tourists, making it ideal for STR operations.

Parking Requirements: Ensure adequate off-street parking, which varies significantly by use type and can impact property suitability.

Tax Registration: Even without a local STR license, state tax registration is typically required for lodging operations.

Legislative Monitoring: The 2025 Arkansas legislature is actively considering bills that could limit local STR restrictions, potentially affecting Mountain View's regulatory environment.

This guide provides the regulatory foundation for STR investment in Mountain View, but investors should verify current requirements with city officials before making investment decisions, as local regulations can evolve and enforcement practices may vary.

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Ask the AI Advisor about Mountain View

Mountain View is a small city in Stone County, Arkansas, set in the heart of the Ozark Mountains. With a population of approximately 2,800 residents, the community has earned a long-standing reputation as the "Folk Music Capital of the World" thanks to its traditions of preserving Ozark music, dance, and crafts. As the county seat of Stone County, Mountain View serves as a cultural and recreational hub for the surrounding region, surrounded on all sides by the Ozark National Forest. It lies roughly 100 miles north of Little Rock, the state capital, with a drive of about two hours via US-65.

One of Mountain View's defining attractions is its historic downtown courthouse square, where local and visiting musicians gather to play traditional acoustic music in informal picking sessions. Throughout the warmer months and into the fall, the square comes alive with fiddles, banjos, dulcimers, and guitars as performers and listeners fill the surrounding sidewalks and nearby porches. This free, open-air musical tradition is unusual in its authenticity and accessibility, drawing music lovers from across the country who come to hear the kind of old-time Ozark music rarely performed elsewhere.

The Ozark Folk Center State Park, located on the edge of town, is a heritage site dedicated to preserving and sharing the music, crafts, and culture of the Ozark region. The park operates a craft village where artisans demonstrate traditional skills such as blacksmithing, weaving, and pottery, a music auditorium offering regular live performances, and a heritage herb garden. It also serves as the centerpiece of the annual Arkansas Folk Festival each spring, one of the region's signature cultural events.

Just a short drive southeast of Mountain View, Blanchard Springs Caverns offers a remarkable underground experience within the Ozark National Forest. The cavern system features guided tours through massive limestone chambers filled with stalactites, stalagmites, and flowing formations, and it is operated by the U.S. Forest Service. It is approximately a 15- to 20-minute drive from town and provides a cool-weather-friendly activity that complements the area's outdoor offerings.

About 30 to 45 minutes north of Mountain View, the Buffalo National River winds through one of America's first designated national rivers, offering canoeing, kayaking, fishing, swimming, and hiking along its scenic bluffs. Access points such as Buffalo Point and Tyler Bend provide a range of experiences, from family-friendly floats to multi-day wilderness trips.

Mountain View makes a compelling base for short-term rentals because it blends living cultural heritage with abundant outdoor recreation in a setting that feels genuinely rural and unhurried. Guests can spend mornings floating the Buffalo, afternoons exploring underground caverns or hiking forest trails, and evenings listening to live folk music on the courthouse square—all within a short drive of their lodging. The combination of year-round music programming, seasonal festivals, and access to the Ozark and Buffalo National River systems gives the town a steady rhythm of visitors, supporting strong occupancy for well-located cabins and cottages.