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  1. Home
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  3. Regulations
  4. ·
  5. Louisiana
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  7. St. Martinville

St. Martinville

Permissive
LouisianaUpdated Feb 10, 2026
Gold-standard verification1% sourced

Cross-referenced against 3 official sources — municipal codes, planning-department pages, and government registries.

Verified Jan 30, 2026Sources 3

Summary

Plain-english overview

St. Martinville currently has no dedicated short-term rental ordinance. While the city does not have a specific permit system, hosts are generally expected to comply with Parish-level tax requirements and general city business licensing.

Restriction level

Severity 3
Classification
Permissive
3
Severity

Why this classification

  • Reporting required
  • No STR-specific permit required
  • No night cap
  • No primary residence requirement
  • No STR-specific fee

In plain English

What this means for you

To host an Airbnb in the City of St. Martinville, you won't find a specific 'STR permit' to apply for because the city hasn't passed any laws just for vacation rentals. However, you are still legally required to register for a sales tax account with St. Martin Parish to ensure the 4% Hotel/Motel tax is handled. You should also check with City Hall to see if they require a standard Occupational License for your specific property. Since there are no strict city rules yet, always be mindful of local noise ordinances and neighbors to avoid general code enforcement complaints.

At a glance

Key numbers
Permit requiredNo
Night limitNone
Primary residenceNot required
Total tax rateVaries

6 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps
  1. 1Verify your property is within the 'City of St. Martinville' limits and not 'Unincorporated St. Martin Parish'.
  2. 2There is no specific STR ordinance, which means the city could potentially use 'permissive zoning' to argue the use is not allowed if complaints arise.
  3. 3A 4% Hotel/Motel tax applies to all stays under 30 days and must be remitted to the Parish Sales Tax Department.
  4. 4State sales tax (4.45%) and local sales taxes also apply to the total rental price.
  5. 5Short-term rentals are currently unregulated but not explicitly banned, placing them in a 'gray area'.
  6. 6Always check with your Homeowners Association (HOA), as they can prohibit STRs even if the city does not.

Regulation details

Sourced from official code
Eligibility1 rule
  • St. Martinville: Your HOA can prohibit short-term rentals even if the city allows them. Check your CC&Rs before applying.
Requirements11 rules
  • Common mistakes and gotchas for STR hosts in St. Martinville: 1. Verify if your property is within the 'Historic District' as additional design or signage reviews may apply. 2. Operating without an Occupational License carries a stiff $500 fine and immediate shutdown threat. 3. Occupancy tax is remitted to the School Board, not the City Hall directly. 4. The city is 'cashless' as of 2026; only checks or credit cards are accepted for permit fees. 5. Long-term stays (30+ days) are exempt from the 4% Hotel/Motel Occupancy Tax. 6. Property must meet 2021 International Residential Code standards even if not explicitly inspected for STR use.
Application process8 rules
  • Step-by-step guide to get an STR permit in St. Martinville: Step 1: Register with State - Obtain a State Sales Tax Registration Certificate from the Louisiana Department of Revenue. Estimated time: 1-2 weeks. More info: https://revenue.louisiana.gov/SalesTax Step 2: Apply for City Occupational License - Visit the Planning & Zoning Department to apply for a business license under the 'Leasing/Renting' category. Documents needed: Occupational License Application, Copy of ID. Estimated time: 7-14 days. Cost: 50. More info: https://www.stmartinville.gov/planning-and-zoning Step 3: Register with Parish Tax Collector - Create an account with the St. Martin Parish School Board Sales Tax Department to remit occupancy taxes. Documents needed: Sales Tax Application. Estimated time: 3-5 days. More info: https://www.saintmartinschools.org/departments/sales-tax
Fees & costs2 rules
  • St. Martinville charges a registration fee of $50 (one_time).
  • St. Martinville: The city is 'cashless' as of 2026; only checks or credit cards are accepted for permit fees.
Taxes3 rules
  • St. Martinville: Occupancy tax is remitted to the School Board, not the City Hall directly.
  • St. Martinville charges a Hotel/Motel Occupancy Tax of 4%. This applies to stays under 30 days. Platforms like Airbnb collect and remit this tax. Note: Airbnb collects 4% Parish Hotel/Motel Tax and 5% State Sales Tax. Total tax is 14% (5% State + 5% City Sales + 4% Parish Occupancy).
Limits & restrictions1 rule
  • St. Martinville enforces quiet hours: Nuisance ordinance applies (Chapter 8, Article III).
Safety requirements1 rule
  • St. Martinville requires the following safety measures for STRs: smoke detectors, Compliance with 2021 International Residential Code (IRC).
Penalties3 rules
  • St. Martinville: Repeated violations can result in permanent permit revocation. You would lose the ability to operate any STR.
  • St. Martinville enforces the following penalties for STR violations: First offense: $500 citation. Second offense: Immediate shutdown of unauthorized sales/business. Maximum fine: $500. Permit may be revoked for violations.
Exemptions3 rules
  • St. Martinville: Rentals of 30+ days are generally NOT considered short-term rentals and may be exempt from STR regulations (but may have other requirements).
  • St. Martinville exempts the following from STR regulations: long-term rentals (30+ days).
  • St. Martinville: Long-term stays (30+ days) are exempt from the 4% Hotel/Motel Occupancy Tax.

How to get permitted

Step-by-step guide for St. Martinville

0/2
steps completed
Step 1

Apply for Sales Tax Certificate

Register with the St. Martin Parish Sales Tax Department to obtain a local tax ID for Hotel/Motel tax remittance.

1-2 weeksFree
Documents needed
  • Social Security Number or EIN
  • Business Name and Address
Official resource
Step 2

Obtain Local Occupational License

Visit St. Martinville City Hall to apply for a general business license if operating as a commercial enterprise.

Varies
Official resource

Frequently asked questions

5 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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