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

**Yes**, St. Louis requires a Short-Term Rental Permit to operate legally. You need to apply for this permit through the city and undergo a safety inspection. The annual fee is $150 for primary residences and $250 for non-primary residences. You must include the permit number in your listing. (53 words)

What is the TOT tax rate in St. Louis?

**7.25% TOT** is the tax rate you need to collect from guests. As a short-term rental host, you're responsible for collecting and remitting this tax to the city. Tax rates vary; check with the local finance department to confirm current requirements and filing procedures. (51 words)

Are short-term rentals allowed in St. Louis?

**Yes**, short-term rentals are allowed in St. Louis, but you must comply with the city's regulations. You need to obtain a permit, pay the applicable fees, and adhere to safety standards. Also, you are limited to owning only one short-term rental property within the city limits. (50 words)

Do I need to live in my property to rent it on Airbnb in St. Louis?

**No**, you don't necessarily need to live in the property full-time. St. Louis differentiates between Type 1 (primary residence) and Type 2 (non-primary) short-term rentals. Non-primary rentals have higher permit fees ($250 vs $150). Both types require a permit and safety inspection to operate legally. (53 words)

Can renters host on Airbnb in St. Louis?

**Yes**, tenants can host on Airbnb in St. Louis, provided they obtain the required short-term rental permit from the city. They must also adhere to all other regulations, including safety inspections and tax collection. Renters should also review their lease agreement to ensure hosting is permitted. (51 words)

St. Louis, MO Short-Term Rental Laws

Summary

The City of St. Louis requires all short-term rentals to obtain an annual permit and undergo a safety inspection. Regulations differentiate between Type 1 (primary residence) and Type 2 (non-primary) hosts, with higher fees for non-owner occupied units.

Restriction Level

⚠️

Moderate

Score: 26 (restrictive)

Why this classification:

•Standard permit fee: $150
•Limited to 1 property per owner
•Permit required
•Reporting required
•No night cap
•No primary residence requirement
•Tenants can host

In Plain English

To host an Airbnb in the City of St. Louis, you must apply for a city permit and pay an annual fee ($150 for your own home, $250 for an investment property). You are limited to owning only one short-term rental property in the city. Before applying, you must clear all city taxes and prepare your home for a safety inspection that checks for smoke alarms and fire extinguishers. Once licensed, you must include your permit number in your online listing.

At a Glance

Permit Required

Yes

Night Limit

None

Primary Residence

Not Required

Total Tax Rate

0.1%

Permit Fee

$150

Processing Time

30-60 days

7 Things Hosts Often Miss

1.Verify you are in the City of St. Louis limits, not unincorporated St. Louis County, as rules differ significantly.
2.Non-owner occupied hosts (Type 2) are limited to only ONE property in the city.
3.You must obtain a tax clearance letter before the city will even accept your permit application.
4.Safety inspections are mandatory and check specifically for interconnected smoke alarms.
5.The total tax rate is approximately 11.475% when combining city and state requirements.
6.Rentals of more than 30 consecutive days are exempt from these STR specific rules.
7.Tenants can host but must provide a notarized letter of permission from their landlord.

Regulation Details

Eligibility(8)

•St. Louis allows STRs in the following property types: Single-family, Multi-family (subject to caps), Condominium.
•St. Louis: You can have a co-host or property manager help manage your listing.
•St. Louis limits hosts to a maximum of 4 STR properties per owner.
•St. Louis: Your HOA can prohibit short-term rentals even if the city allows them. Check your CC&Rs before applying.

Requirements(19)

•St. Louis STR warning: No single-night bookings are allowed under the new ordinance.
•St. Louis STR warning: Properties with TIF or tax abatement are ineligible for STR permits.
•St. Louis STR warning: Enforcement of permit requirements is currently paused by court order (as of April 2025).
•St. Louis: Permits can only be issued to individuals, not LLCs.

Application Process(8)

•How to set up an STR in St. Louis: To host an Airbnb in the City of St. Louis, you should be aware that the city has passed new rules, though a judge has recently put the permit requirement on hold. Under the intended rules, you must pay a $150 annual fee, have a 2-night minimum stay, and designate an agent who can respond to issues within one hour. You must still pay a total tax rate of approximately 14.5%, which includes state sales tax and various city lodging taxes. If your property is in a single-family residential zone, you will eventually need to go through a public hearing to get a permit once enforcement resumes.

Fees & Costs(1)

•St. Louis charges a registration fee of $150 (annual).

Taxes(2)

•St. Louis charges a Hotel/Motel Room Tax (Combined) of 10.25%. This applies to stays under 31 days. Platforms like Airbnb collect and remit this tax. Note: Airbnb collects 3.5% + 3.75%; Vrbo generally does not. The new 3% STR fee is typically operator-remitted.
•Missouri has a state sales tax of 4.225% that applies to STR rentals.

Limits & Restrictions(8)

•St. Louis limits stays to a maximum of 30 nights.
•St. Louis: A 2-night minimum stay is required for all short-term rentals.
•St. Louis: Non-occupied permits are capped at 4 per person citywide.
•St. Louis requires a minimum stay of 2 nights.
•St. Louis: Multi-unit buildings have strict caps (e.g., only 12.5% of units in buildings with 24+ units).

Safety Requirements(1)

•St. Louis requires the following safety measures for STRs: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher, fire inspection, posted maximum occupancy, posted emergency contact, 24/7 Local Agent who can respond in person within one hour.

Penalties(2)

•St. Louis: Repeated violations can result in permanent permit revocation. You would lose the ability to operate any STR.
•St. Louis enforces the following penalties for STR violations: First offense: Violation notice. Second offense: Fines. Third offense: Permit revocation. Daily fine: Varies by violation. Permit may be revoked for violations.

Exemptions(2)

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

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Disclaimer

Regulatory information is AI-researched 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.

St. Louis

Baseline Verification

Summary

Restriction Level

Why this classification:

In Plain English

At a Glance

7 Things Hosts Often Miss

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Regulation Details

Eligibility(8)

Requirements(19)

Application Process(8)

Fees & Costs(1)

Taxes(2)

Limits & Restrictions(8)

Safety Requirements(1)

Penalties(2)

Exemptions(2)

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Step-by-Step Application Guide

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Frequently Asked Questions

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St. Louis

Baseline Verification

Summary

Restriction Level

Why this classification:

In Plain English

At a Glance

7 Things Hosts Often Miss

Step-by-Step Application Guide

Upgrade to Pro

Frequently Asked Questions

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

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

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

4Do I need to live in my property to rent it on Airbnb in St. Louis?

5Can renters host on Airbnb in St. Louis?

Related Content

Other Missouri Markets

Springfield

Independence

Jefferson City

Branson