Do I need a permit for short-term rentals in Bay St. Louis?

**Yes**, you need a Short-Term Rental Permit in Bay St. Louis. You need to acquire this annual permit to operate legally, costing $250 per year. Make sure to apply well in advance of hosting your first guest to avoid any penalties. A fire safety inspection is also required.

What is the TOT tax rate in Bay St. Louis?

**10%** is the total tax you need to collect for short-term rentals. This is the sum of 7% Mississippi state sales tax plus 3% local lodging tax. You need to remit these taxes to the appropriate authorities on a regular basis, as determined by the city and state.

Are short-term rentals allowed in Bay St. Louis?

**Yes**, short-term rentals are permitted in Bay St. Louis, but you must comply with local regulations. You need to secure an annual Short-Term Rental Permit and pass a fire safety inspection. Always check with the city's planning department for the most up-to-date rules and zoning restrictions before listing your property.

How much does an STR permit cost in Bay St. Louis?

**$250** is the annual cost for a Short-Term Rental Permit. You need to renew this permit each year to continue operating legally. Make sure to factor this expense into your pricing strategy. Contact the city’s permitting office for details on the application process and renewal requirements.

Can renters host on Airbnb in Bay St. Louis?

**No**, tenants are not allowed to host on Airbnb in Bay St. Louis. Only property owners are eligible to apply for a Short-Term Rental Permit. Renting out a property without the owner's express permission and a valid STR permit is strictly prohibited and may result in fines.

Bay St. Louis

Moderate

MississippiUpdated Apr 5, 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

Short-term rentals are permitted in Bay St. Louis but require an annual permit and a fire safety inspection. Hosts must collect a total tax of 10% (7% state sales tax plus 3% local lodging tax).

Restriction level

Severity 21

Classification

Moderate

Severity

Why this classification

Standard permit fee: $250
Tenants cannot host
Permit required
Reporting required
No night cap
No primary residence requirement

In plain English

What this means for you

To host an Airbnb in Bay St. Louis, you must apply for a city permit and pass a fire safety inspection. You do not need to live on the property to rent it out, but you must have a local contact who can respond to issues. Be sure to include your city permit number on your listing and ensure you have at least one off-street parking spot for every bedroom you rent out.

At a glance

Key numbers

Permit requiredYes

Night limitNone

Primary residenceNot required

Total tax rate0.1%

Permit fee$250

Processing time2-4 weeks

7 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps

1Verify you are within the incorporated city limits; Hancock County unincorporated rules differ significantly.
2Parking is strictly enforced: you must provide one off-street parking space for every bedroom used for the STR.
3An annual fire inspection is mandatory and must be passed before a permit is issued.
4The maximum occupancy is capped at 10 guests regardless of home size.
5You must obtain a Mississippi Sales Tax number before the city will issue an STR permit.
6Renewal is required every January; late renewals may face the full $250 initial fee again.
7Quiet hours (10 PM - 7 AM) are strictly enforced by local police.

Regulation details

Sourced from official code

Eligibility8 rules

Bay St. Louis, MS: You can have a co-host or property manager help manage your listing.
Bay St. Louis: Your HOA can prohibit short-term rentals even if the city allows them. Check your CC&Rs before applying.
Bay St. Louis: You can have a co-host or property manager help manage your listing.
Bay St. Louis prohibits STRs in the following property types: RV, Travel trailers, Tents.

Requirements20 rules

Bay St. Louis, MS: A fire inspection may be required before you can operate. Schedule early as this can delay your start date.
Bay St. Louis: A fire inspection may be required before you can operate. Schedule early as this can delay your start date.
Bay St. Louis: Parking is strictly enforced: you must provide one off-street parking space for every bedroom used for the STR.

Application process10 rules

Bay St. Louis STR permit - Step 1: Register for MS Sales Tax Number. Obtain a sales tax ID from the Mississippi Department of Revenue for lodging tax collection. Required documents: Business info, SSN/FEIN. Time: 7-10 days.

Fees & costs2 rules

Bay St. Louis charges a registration fee of $250 (annual). Extended/additional fee: $100 (Annual renewal fee is $100; initial application is $250.).
Bay St. Louis: Renewal is required every January; late renewals may face the full $250 initial fee again.

Taxes3 rules

Mississippi has a state sales tax of 7% that applies to STR rentals.
Bay St. Louis charges a City Lodging Tax of 3%. This applies to stays under 30 days. Platforms like Airbnb collect and remit this tax. Note: Airbnb and VRBO remit the 7% state tax and 3% local tax for most MS jurisdictions including Bay St. Louis.

Limits & restrictions7 rules

Bay St. Louis occupancy calculation: 2 guests per bedroom plus 2 additional guests, not to exceed 10 total.. Count your bedrooms to determine your max guest limit.
Bay St. Louis: The maximum occupancy is capped at 10 guests regardless of home size.

Safety requirements2 rules

Bay St. Louis requires the following safety measures for STRs: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher, fire inspection, posted maximum occupancy, posted emergency contact, Egress windows must meet code, One parking space per bedroom required.
Bay St. Louis: An annual fire inspection is mandatory and must be passed before a permit is issued.

Penalties3 rules

Bay St. Louis enforces the following penalties for STR violations: First offense: $500 fine. Second offense: Revocation of permit for 1 year. Third offense: Permanent revocation. Daily fine: $100 - $500. Maximum fine: $500 per day. Permit may be revoked for violations.
Bay St. Louis: Repeated violations can result in permanent permit revocation. You would lose the ability to operate any STR.

Exemptions3 rules

Bay St. Louis, MS: Rentals of 30+ days are generally NOT considered short-term rentals and may be exempt from STR regulations (but may have other requirements).
Bay St. Louis exempts the following from STR regulations: long-term rentals (30+ days).

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

Bay St. Louis

Moderate

MississippiUpdated Apr 5, 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

Short-term rentals are permitted in Bay St. Louis but require an annual permit and a fire safety inspection. Hosts must collect a total tax of 10% (7% state sales tax plus 3% local lodging tax).

Restriction level

Severity 21

Classification

Moderate

Severity

Why this classification

Standard permit fee: $250
Tenants cannot host
Permit required
Reporting required
No night cap
No primary residence requirement

In plain English

What this means for you

At a glance

Key numbers

Permit requiredYes

Night limitNone

Primary residenceNot required

Total tax rate0.1%

Permit fee$250

Processing time2-4 weeks

7 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps

1Verify you are within the incorporated city limits; Hancock County unincorporated rules differ significantly.
2Parking is strictly enforced: you must provide one off-street parking space for every bedroom used for the STR.
3An annual fire inspection is mandatory and must be passed before a permit is issued.
4The maximum occupancy is capped at 10 guests regardless of home size.
5You must obtain a Mississippi Sales Tax number before the city will issue an STR permit.
6Renewal is required every January; late renewals may face the full $250 initial fee again.
7Quiet hours (10 PM - 7 AM) are strictly enforced by local police.

Regulation details

Sourced from official code

Eligibility8 rules

Bay St. Louis, MS: You can have a co-host or property manager help manage your listing.
Bay St. Louis: Your HOA can prohibit short-term rentals even if the city allows them. Check your CC&Rs before applying.
Bay St. Louis: You can have a co-host or property manager help manage your listing.
Bay St. Louis prohibits STRs in the following property types: RV, Travel trailers, Tents.

Requirements20 rules

Bay St. Louis, MS: A fire inspection may be required before you can operate. Schedule early as this can delay your start date.
Bay St. Louis: A fire inspection may be required before you can operate. Schedule early as this can delay your start date.
Bay St. Louis: Parking is strictly enforced: you must provide one off-street parking space for every bedroom used for the STR.

Application process10 rules

Bay St. Louis STR permit - Step 1: Register for MS Sales Tax Number. Obtain a sales tax ID from the Mississippi Department of Revenue for lodging tax collection. Required documents: Business info, SSN/FEIN. Time: 7-10 days.

Fees & costs2 rules

Bay St. Louis charges a registration fee of $250 (annual). Extended/additional fee: $100 (Annual renewal fee is $100; initial application is $250.).
Bay St. Louis: Renewal is required every January; late renewals may face the full $250 initial fee again.

Taxes3 rules

Mississippi has a state sales tax of 7% that applies to STR rentals.
Bay St. Louis charges a City Lodging Tax of 3%. This applies to stays under 30 days. Platforms like Airbnb collect and remit this tax. Note: Airbnb and VRBO remit the 7% state tax and 3% local tax for most MS jurisdictions including Bay St. Louis.

Limits & restrictions7 rules

Bay St. Louis occupancy calculation: 2 guests per bedroom plus 2 additional guests, not to exceed 10 total.. Count your bedrooms to determine your max guest limit.
Bay St. Louis: The maximum occupancy is capped at 10 guests regardless of home size.

Safety requirements2 rules

Bay St. Louis requires the following safety measures for STRs: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher, fire inspection, posted maximum occupancy, posted emergency contact, Egress windows must meet code, One parking space per bedroom required.
Bay St. Louis: An annual fire inspection is mandatory and must be passed before a permit is issued.

Penalties3 rules

Bay St. Louis enforces the following penalties for STR violations: First offense: $500 fine. Second offense: Revocation of permit for 1 year. Third offense: Permanent revocation. Daily fine: $100 - $500. Maximum fine: $500 per day. Permit may be revoked for violations.
Bay St. Louis: Repeated violations can result in permanent permit revocation. You would lose the ability to operate any STR.

Exemptions3 rules

Bay St. Louis, MS: Rentals of 30+ days are generally NOT considered short-term rentals and may be exempt from STR regulations (but may have other requirements).
Bay St. Louis exempts the following from STR regulations: long-term rentals (30+ days).

Frequently asked questions

5 answered

Disclaimer

Researched & verified by Learn STR at GoStudioM

Summary

Restriction level

Why this classification

In plain English

At a glance

7 things hosts often miss

Regulation details

Frequently asked questions

1Do I need a permit for short-term rentals in Bay St. Louis?

2What is the TOT tax rate in Bay St. Louis?

3Are short-term rentals allowed in Bay St. Louis?

4How much does an STR permit cost in Bay St. Louis?

5Can renters host on Airbnb in Bay St. Louis?

Disclaimer

Summary

Restriction level

Why this classification

In plain English

At a glance

7 things hosts often miss

Regulation details

Frequently asked questions

1Do I need a permit for short-term rentals in Bay St. Louis?

2What is the TOT tax rate in Bay St. Louis?

3Are short-term rentals allowed in Bay St. Louis?

4How much does an STR permit cost in Bay St. Louis?

5Can renters host on Airbnb in Bay St. Louis?

Disclaimer