Is Wing, North Dakota Good for Airbnb Investment?

To start an Airbnb in Wing, North Dakota, begin by researching local zoning laws and regulations through Burleigh County planning department, as Wing is an unincorporated community that falls under county jurisdiction in preference to municipal oversight.

Launch checklist

• Contact Burleigh County at (701) 222 to 6651 to verify short term rental regulations, obtain necessary permits, and ensure compliance with fire safety codes and health department requirements.
• Find a suitable property by working with local real estate agents familiar with the Wing area, considering proximity to attractions like Lake Sakakawea and hunting/fishing access points that draw visitors to the region.
• Furnish the property with durable, comfortable furniture suitable for outdoor enthusiasts and business travelers, including essential amenities like high speed internet, full kitchen facilities, and outdoor equipment storage.
• List your property on Airbnb, VRBO, and Booking.com with professional photos highlighting the rural North Dakota experience and nearby recreational opportunities.
• For management, establish relationships with local cleaning services in nearby Bismarck or Mandan (approximately 45 minutes away), create a digital guidebook featuring local attractions like Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park and Missouri River activities.

To identify profitable short term rental properties in Wing, North Dakota, focus on properties within 2 to 3 miles of Garrison Dam and Lake Sakakawea, as this area attracts fishing enthusiasts, boaters, and outdoor recreation visitors year round.

What to prioritize

• Target 2 to 4 bedroom single family homes or cabins with lake views, boat access, fish cleaning stations, and outdoor amenities like fire pits or decks, as these features command premium rates of $150 to 250 per night during peak season (May September).
• Analyze comparable properties using AirDNA and Mashvisor to assess occupancy rates (typically 40 to 60% in this rural market) and average daily rates.
• Properties priced between $200,000 to 400,000 with strong rental potential should generate 15 to 25% annual returns, and utilize local resources like Burleigh County tourism data, North Dakota Game and Fish Department visitor statistics.
• Consider proximity to boat launches, fishing tournaments, and seasonal events while ensuring properties meet North Dakota's short term rental regulations and have reliable internet for remote workers seeking rural retreats.

To obtain an Airbnb/STR permit in Wing, North Dakota, you must first contact the Burleigh County Planning and Zoning Department since Wing is an unincorporated community within Burleigh County jurisdiction, located at 514 East Thayer Avenue in Bismarck, or call (701) 222 to 6651.

Documents and approvals

• Required documents typically include a completed short term rental application form, property deed or lease agreement, floor plan of the rental unit, proof of liability insurance (minimum $1 million coverage), septic system inspection certificate, water quality test results.
• You'll need to pay an application fee of approximately $150 to 200 plus an annual permit fee of around $100 to 150, with additional inspection fees of $75 to 100.
• The timeline usually takes 4 to 6 weeks from application submission to permit approval, depending on inspection scheduling and document completeness.
• Specific Wing/Burleigh County requirements include maintaining adequate parking spaces (minimum 2 per unit), ensuring septic systems can handle increased occupancy, providing emergency contact information to neighbors within 300 feet, maintaining a guest registry.

Short term rentals (STRs) are generally legal in Wing, North Dakota, as the small rural community in Burleigh County does not have specific municipal ordinances prohibiting or heavily regulating vacation rentals.

Core operating requirements

• North Dakota state law does not ban STRs, leaving regulation primarily to local municipalities, and Wing's limited municipal infrastructure and small population (approximately 150 to 200 residents) means there are likely minimal formal restrictions beyond basic zoning compliance and state tax requirements.
• Property owners in Wing can typically operate STRs in residential areas without special permits, though they must collect and remit state sales tax and may need to comply with basic safety standards.
• There have been no significant recent legal changes specific to Wing regarding STR regulations, and the community's rural nature and lack of tourism pressure means restrictive ordinances are unlikely to be implemented.
• However, operators should verify current zoning compliance with Burleigh County and ensure proper business licensing and tax registration with the North Dakota Tax Commissioner's office.

Wing, North Dakota is a small rural community in Burleigh County with limited traditional tourism infrastructure, making Airbnb investment opportunities quite niche but potentially viable in specific contexts.

Areas to research

• The most promising area would be properties near the Missouri River corridor and Lake Oahe region, approximately 15 to 20 miles southeast of Wing, which attracts seasonal fishing, hunting, and water recreation enthusiasts from April through October.
• The agricultural district surrounding Wing's grain elevators and farming operations could serve business travelers, agricultural consultants, and seasonal workers during harvest periods from August through November.
• Properties within Wing's small downtown area near Highway 83 might capture overflow demand from Bismarck Mandan (about 45 miles south) during major events like the North Dakota State Fair or when hotels are fully booked.
• The hunting lodges and rural properties on the outskirts of Wing could be attractive for deer and waterfowl hunting seasons, capitalizing on North Dakota's reputation for excellent hunting opportunities from September through December.

Airbnb properties in Wing, North Dakota are subject to North Dakota's state lodging tax of 4% on gross receipts from short term rentals under 30 days, which is collected by the host and remitted monthly to the North Dakota Tax Commissioner by the 15th of the following month if monthly collections exceed $50.

Taxes and filing responsibilities

• Burleigh County, where Wing is located, does not impose an additional county lodging tax as of 2023.
• The city of Wing, being a small rural community with a population under 200, does not have a municipal lodging tax ordinance in place.
• Airbnb as a platform may collect and remit the state tax directly on behalf of hosts in North Dakota under their voluntary collection agreements established in 2019.
• Exemptions typically include rentals to permanent residents (30+ days), rentals to government employees on official business, and certain nonprofit organization stays.

To start an Airbnb in Wing, North Dakota, the total estimated costs would be approximately $185,000 to $220,000.

Cost breakdown

• Property purchase costs around $120,000 to $150,000 based on median rural North Dakota home prices, as Wing is a small town with limited housing stock.
• Furnishing costs typically range $15,000 to $25,000 for a complete 2 to 3 bedroom home including furniture, appliances, linens, and décor to create an attractive rental space.
• Initial setup costs including professional photography, listing creation, and basic renovations average $3,000 to $5,000.
• Permits and fees in North Dakota are relatively minimal at $500 to $1,500, covering business licenses and potential local registration requirements.
• Insurance costs approximately $2,000 to $3,000 annually for short term rental coverage.
• Utilities including electricity, water, sewer, internet, and heating average $300 to $400 monthly in rural North Dakota.
• First six months operating costs including utilities ($1,800 to $2,400), cleaning supplies and services ($1,200 to $2,000), maintenance reserves ($1,000 to $2,000), marketing ($500 to $1,000), and platform fees would total approximately $4,500 to $7,400.
• Additional considerations include higher heating costs during harsh North Dakota winters and potential seasonal demand fluctuations affecting occupancy rates in smaller rural markets.

Airbnb properties in Wing, North Dakota face significant profitability challenges due to the town's small population of approximately 150 residents and limited tourism infrastructure.

Profitability indicators

• Properties in this rural area typically generate $2,000 to 4,000 annually in gross revenue with occupancy rates around 15 to 25%, primarily from oil workers, hunters, and occasional travelers passing through the region.
• Operating expenses including utilities, maintenance, insurance, and platform fees typically consume 60 to 70% of gross revenue, leaving net profit margins of 5 to 15% or roughly $100 to 600 per year per property.
• Success factors include targeting extended stay oil industry workers who pay $80 to 120 per night for month long bookings, offering hunting lodge amenities during fall seasons, and maintaining extremely low acquisition costs by purchasing properties under $50,000.
• The limited competition from hotels (nearest chain hotel is 45 miles away in Bismarck) provides some advantage, but the seasonal nature of demand and high vacancy rates make Wing properties more suitable as supplemental income in preference to primary investment vehicles.

Airbnb investments in Wing, North Dakota typically generate annual ROI of 8 to 12% due to the town's proximity to oil field activities and seasonal agricultural workers. Properties generally reach profitability within 18 to 24 months, though this market faces challenges from limited year round tourism and dependence on Bakken oil field workforce demand.

STRSearch is a national platform that helps investors identify profitable short term rental properties across markets including Wing, North Dakota.

Companies and resources

• Local real estate agents in the Burleigh County area such as Coldwell Banker The Real Estate Group and RE/MAX Results have experience with investment properties that could serve the Airbnb market.
• Century 21 Morrison Realty and Keller Williams Realty also operate in the region and can assist with property acquisition strategies.
• National services like Mashvisor, BiggerPockets, and AirDNA provide market analysis and property evaluation tools for the North Dakota market.
• RedAwning and Vacasa offer property management services that can help investors maximize returns on Airbnb investments in smaller markets like Wing.
• Local property management companies such as Dakota Property Management and Northern Plains Property Services may also provide consultation on short term rental opportunities in the area.