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  1. Home
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  3. Regulations
  4. ·
  5. Mississippi
  6. ·
  7. Oxford

Oxford

Permissive
MississippiUpdated Feb 11, 2026
Gold-standard verification1% sourced

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

Verified Feb 11, 2026Sources 0

Summary

Plain-english overview

Oxford regulates short-term rentals through a tiered permit system (STRR-I and STRR-II) based on owner-occupancy and zoning, with investment properties prohibited in most low-density residential areas.

Restriction level

Severity 3
Classification
Permissive
3
Severity

Why this classification

  • Tenants cannot host
  • Permit required
  • Reporting required
  • Safety standards required
  • No night cap
  • No primary residence requirement

In plain English

What this means for you

To host a short-term rental in Oxford, you must obtain an annual permit from the Planning Department and a city business license. If the property is your primary home (STRR-I), it is allowed in most residential neighborhoods; however, investment properties (STRR-II) are strictly limited to commercial or multi-family zones and are banned in R-1 and R-2 districts.

At a glance

Key numbers
Permit requiredYes
Night limitNone
Primary residenceNot required
Total tax rate0.1%
Permit fee$100
Processing time2-4 weeks

4 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps
  1. 1STRR-II (Investment properties) are strictly prohibited in the R-1 and R-2 single-family districts.
  2. 2Property must be homesteaded to qualify for the cheaper and more flexible STRR-I permit.
  3. 3A local 2% tourism tax must be remitted monthly in addition to the state's 7% sales tax.
  4. 4Permits are annual and require a renewal application each year.

Regulation details

Sourced from official code
Eligibility7 rules
  • Oxford allows STRs in the following property types: Single Family, Condo, Townhouse, Multi-family.
  • Oxford: You can have a co-host or property manager help manage your listing.
  • Oxford does NOT allow tenants to host STRs. Only property owners may operate short-term rentals.
  • Oxford: Your HOA can prohibit short-term rentals even if the city allows them. Check your CC&Rs before applying.
Requirements12 rules
  • Oxford STR warning: STRR-II (Investment properties) are strictly prohibited in the R-1 and R-2 single-family districts.
  • Oxford requires STR registration. The permit is called "Short-Term Residential Rental (STRR) Permit". Apply through Planning Department. Processing time: 2-4 weeks. Renewal is required.
  • Oxford: You must display your permit/registration number on your Airbnb listing.
Application process8 rules
  • Oxford STR permit - Step 4: Schedule Safety Inspection. Once the application is reviewed, the City Building/Fire Department will perform an inspection to ensure compliance with the life safety checklist. Required documents: Self-Certification Checklist. Time: 1 week.
Fees & costs1 rule
  • Oxford charges a registration fee of $100 (annual). Extended/additional fee: $400 ($100 for STRR-I (Primary); $400 for STRR-II (Investment)).
Taxes3 rules
  • Oxford charges a Oxford Tourism/Economic Development Tax of 0.02%. This applies to stays under 30 days. Note: Airbnb and VRBO may remit the 7% state tax, but hosts are often responsible for the local 2% tourism tax.
  • Oxford: A local 2% tourism tax must be remitted monthly in addition to the state's 7% sales tax.
  • Mississippi has a state sales tax of 0.07% that applies to STR rentals.
Limits & restrictions4 rules
  • Oxford limits stays to a maximum of 29 nights.
  • Oxford occupancy calculation: 2 per bedroom + 2, not to exceed 10 total guests. Count your bedrooms to determine your max guest limit.
  • Oxford limits STRs to a maximum of 10 guests. Formula: 2 per bedroom + 2, not to exceed 10 total guests
  • Oxford enforces quiet hours: 10:00 PM - 7:00 AM.
Safety requirements1 rule
  • Oxford requires the following safety measures for STRs: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher, fire inspection, posted maximum occupancy, posted emergency contact, Egress windows in all bedrooms, Interconnected smoke alarms, Working landline or guest-accessible phone for 911.
Penalties2 rules
  • Oxford enforces the following penalties for STR violations: First offense: Warning and/or fine. Second offense: Double fine amount. Third offense: Permit revocation. Daily fine: $500 per day. Permit may be revoked for violations.
  • Oxford: Repeated violations can result in permanent permit revocation. You would lose the ability to operate any STR.
Exemptions2 rules
  • Oxford: Rentals of 30+ days are generally NOT considered short-term rentals and may be exempt from STR regulations (but may have other requirements).
  • Oxford exempts the following from STR regulations: long-term rentals (30+ days), extended stays, Hotels, Bed and Breakfasts.

How to get permitted

Step-by-step guide for Oxford

0/4
steps completed
Step 1

Verify Zoning and Permit Class

Consult the Oxford Zoning Map to determine if your property is eligible for STRR-I (Primary Residence) or STRR-II (Investment) status based on your district.

1-2 daysFree
Official resource
Step 2

Obtain City Business License

Register for a general business license with the Oxford City Clerk's office.

1 week$50
Documents needed
  • Photo ID
  • Property Deed
Official resource
Step 3

Submit STRR Permit Application

Apply through the City's EnerGov portal. Include site and floor plans and evidence of homestead exemption if applying for STRR-I.

2-4 weeks$100
Documents needed
  • Site Plan
  • Floor Plan
  • Insurance Certificate
Official resource
Step 4

Schedule Safety Inspection

Once the application is reviewed, the City Building/Fire Department will perform an inspection to ensure compliance with the life safety checklist.

1 weekFree
Documents needed
  • Self-Certification Checklist

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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