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  1. Home
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  3. Regulations
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  5. Louisiana
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  7. Baton Rouge

Baton Rouge

Moderate
LouisianaUpdated Mar 22, 2026
Gold-standard verification1% sourced

Cross-referenced against 0 official sources — municipal codes, planning-department pages, and government registries.

Verified Feb 7, 2026Sources 0

Summary

Plain-english overview

Short-term rentals in Baton Rouge require registration and adherence to specific occupancy, parking, and insurance standards under Ordinance 16370.

Restriction level

Severity 8
Classification
Moderate
8
Severity

Why this classification

  • Permit required
  • Reporting required
  • No night cap
  • No primary residence requirement

In plain English

What this means for you

To host an STR in Baton Rouge, you must register for a tax license and, for whole-home rentals, obtain an annual permit for $100. Hosts must provide off-street parking for every bedroom and carry $1 million in liability insurance. Owner-occupied rentals are permitted but must keep one bedroom reserved for the owner and do not require the $100 permit, though tax registration is still mandatory.

At a glance

Key numbers
Permit requiredYes
Night limitNone
Primary residenceNot required
Total tax rate0.2%
Permit fee$100
Processing time2-4 weeks

5 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps
  1. 1One off-street parking space is required for EVERY bedroom used for STR.
  2. 2Non-owner occupied units MUST have a $100 annual permit.
  3. 3Owner-occupied units must reserve one bedroom solely for the owner.
  4. 4Liability insurance must explicitly name the City of Baton Rouge as an additional insured.
  5. 5Three strikes rule: 3 violations in a year results in a 1-year permit revocation.

Regulation details

Sourced from official code
Eligibility4 rules
  • Baton Rouge: Your HOA can prohibit short-term rentals even if the city allows them. Check your CC&Rs before applying.
  • Baton Rouge: You can have a co-host or property manager help manage your listing.
  • Baton Rouge allows STRs in the following property types: Single Family, Condo, Townhouse, Duplex.
  • Baton Rouge does NOT require the property to be a primary residence. Investment properties are allowed.
Requirements14 rules
  • Baton Rouge: Owner-occupied units must reserve one bedroom solely for the owner.
  • Baton Rouge STR warning: Non-owner occupied units MUST have a $100 annual permit.
  • Baton Rouge STR warning: One off-street parking space is required for EVERY bedroom used for STR.
  • Baton Rouge: Hosts must report their rental activity monthly to the city, even if platforms collect taxes.
Application process6 rules
  • Baton Rouge STR permit - Step 1: Register for Taxes. Register with the City-Parish Finance Department to obtain a tax license for collecting and remitting local sales and occupancy taxes. Required documents: SSN or EIN, Business Name. Time: 1 week.
Fees & costs2 rules
  • Baton Rouge: Non-owner occupied units MUST have a $100 annual permit.
  • Baton Rouge charges a registration fee of $100 (annual).
Taxes2 rules
  • Louisiana has a state sales tax of 0.05% that applies to STR rentals.
  • Baton Rouge charges a Hotel/Motel Occupancy Tax of 0.06%. This applies to stays under 30 days. Platforms like Airbnb collect and remit this tax. Note: Airbnb remits 6% occupancy tax; hosts may still be responsible for local and state sales tax if not handled by platform.
Limits & restrictions4 rules
  • Baton Rouge enforces quiet hours: 10pm-7am.
  • Baton Rouge limits stays to a maximum of 29 nights.
  • Baton Rouge occupancy calculation: 2 per bedroom plus 2 additional people. Count your bedrooms to determine your max guest limit.
  • Baton Rouge limits STRs to a maximum of 12 guests. Formula: 2 per bedroom plus 2 additional people
Safety requirements1 rule
  • Baton Rouge requires the following safety measures for STRs: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher, posted maximum occupancy, posted emergency contact, Lighted exit signage, Working windows and doors in sleeping areas, Clear escape routes.
Penalties2 rules
  • Baton Rouge enforces the following penalties for STR violations: First offense: Notice of violation. Second offense: Fine and potential suspension. Third offense: Permit revocation for 1 year. Permit may be revoked for violations.
  • Baton Rouge: Repeated violations can result in permanent permit revocation. You would lose the ability to operate any STR.
Exemptions2 rules
  • Baton Rouge: Rentals of 30+ days are generally NOT considered short-term rentals and may be exempt from STR regulations (but may have other requirements).
  • Baton Rouge exempts the following from STR regulations: long-term rentals (30+ days), extended stays.

How to get permitted

Step-by-step guide for Baton Rouge

0/3
steps completed
Step 1

Register for Taxes

Register with the City-Parish Finance Department to obtain a tax license for collecting and remitting local sales and occupancy taxes.

1 weekFree
Documents needed
  • SSN or EIN
  • Business Name
Official resource
Step 2

Obtain Insurance Coverage

Secure a commercial liability insurance policy with a minimum $1,000,000 limit that specifically names the City of Baton Rouge as an additional insured.

1 weekFree
Documents needed
  • Insurance Quote/Binder
Step 3

Submit STR Permit Application

Submit a permit application through MyGovernmentOnline for non-owner occupied units. Owner-occupied units do not require this specific permit but must complete tax registration.

2 weeks$100
Documents needed
  • Proof of Insurance
  • Parking Plan
  • Tax Registration Confirmation
Official resource

Frequently asked questions

4 answered

Disclaimer

Regulatory information is AI-researched from public city/county codes for educational purposes. Details may be outdated or incomplete. Always verify requirements directly with your city/county planning department before operating a short-term rental.

Researched & verified by Learn STR at GoStudioM

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