Short-Term Rental Laws in Branson, MO (2026)
Short-term rentals (1-30 nights, whole dwelling units) are legal and welcomed in Branson, but every STR needs a city STR business license ($100 per unit/address, renewed annually by May 1) plus a $150 STR Permit issued by the Fire Department after a fire-safety inspection (valid 3 years), along with a $100 refundable tourism-tax bond. The biggest restriction is zoning: STRs are prohibited in Low Density Residential (LDR) districts and renting individual rooms within a single-family dwelling is not permitted. Hosts must also self-remit the city's 4% tourism tax monthly, since no platform (including Airbnb/VRBO) remits it for them. Always confirm current requirements with the city before operating.
⏳ Verification in progress — data compiled July 10, 2026, human review pending
Branson STR rules at a glance
| Legal status | Allowed with permit |
|---|---|
| Permit required | Yes |
| Permit name | Short-Term Rental (STR) Permit and Short-Term Rental Business License |
| Permit fee | $150 |
| Renewal | Annual |
| Owner occupancy required | No |
| Primary residence only | No |
| Minimum stay | 1 night |
| Total occupancy taxes | ~12.35% of gross revenue |
| Insurance | No liability-insurance requirement was found in the city's STR ordinance. Instead, the permit requires a signed attestation that the property complies with property-maintenance/health/fire/building codes, contains working smoke detectors and at least one fire extinguisher, and is not subject to contractual restrictions (HOA agreements, condo bylaws, covenants) precluding STR use. |
| Enforcement | The Fire Department inspects each STR before licensing and every 3 years thereafter, or sooner on complaints (Sec. 22-454). The STR license number must appear on all advertisements and online platforms (Sec. 22-455), and advertising or listing a property is prima facie evidence of operating an STR (Sec. 22-457), which lets the city cite unlicensed listings. Property managers must produce rental records (nights rented, dates, amounts charged) for up to 3 prior years within 10 business days of a city request (Sec. 22-460). The finance director may suspend or revoke an STR permit for code violations, nuisance, false information, or unpaid city obligations (Sec. 22-475). The city publicly reminds residents that nightly rentals are not allowed in Branson's low-density residential neighborhoods and provides a GIS lookup tool for zoning compliance. |
| Current rules effective | 2025-05-01 |
What will guests pay in taxes on a Branson stay?
Itemized occupancy taxes for Branson, MO — enter your nightly rate to see the real cost breakdown.
Branson occupancy tax calculator
| Gross rent | $450.00 |
| Missouri state sales tax (4.225%)· collection varies | $19.01 |
| Taney County sales taxes (county + jail + ambulance district) (2.125%)· collection varies | $9.56 |
| City of Branson sales tax (2%)· collection varies | $9.00 |
| City of Branson Tourism Tax (accommodations) (4%)· host remits | $18.00 |
| Total tax (12.35%) | $55.58 |
| Guest pays | $505.58 |
Estimate only. Platform collection varies by listing site and agreement; verify rates with the taxing authorities.
Permits & licensing
Branson requires Short-Term Rental (STR) Permit and Short-Term Rental Business License to operate a short-term rental — the fee is $150, renewed annual.
$150 STR Permit / fire-safety inspection fee per address (permit issued by Fire Department, valid 3 years, transferable with new ownership). In addition: $100 annual STR business-license application fee per Short-Term Rental unit/address (license year runs May 1 - April 30; the fee was changed from an employee-based scale to a flat $100 per unit effective with the 2025 renewal season), plus a one-time $100 tourism-tax bond per STR business, refunded after 3 consecutive years of timely tourism tax payments.
Zoning & location rules
Under Table 94-60.1 of the Branson zoning code, short-term rentals are permitted by right in the Conservation (CON), Agricultural (A), Medium Density Residential (MDR), High Density Residential (HDR), Neighborhood Commercial (NC), Community Commercial (CC), Mixed-Use (MU), Downtown (D), and Entertainment (ENT) districts, and prohibited in Low Density Residential (LDR), Business (BUS), and Industrial (I) districts. Sec. 22-36 additionally directs the city to deny a business license to any sub-30-day lodging business in a district zoned Low Density Residential. Use-specific standards (Sec. 94-61(e)(12)b) prohibit renting individual rooms within a single-family dwelling, and in planned developments STRs are allowed only where the PD specifically lists the use. The city provides a GIS tool (gis.bransonmo.gov/NightlyRentals) to check whether an address's zoning permits an STR.
Taxes
| Tax | Rate | Who collects |
|---|---|---|
| Missouri state sales taxApplies to lodging/nightly rental sales. Airbnb has collected and remitted Missouri state sales tax since Feb 2018, and marketplace facilitators must collect state and local sales/use tax under SB 153 (RSMo 144.752) effective Jan 1, 2023. Hosts taking direct bookings need their own MO sales tax license; the city waives the personal MO sales tax license only for hosts advertising exclusively on Airbnb. | 4.225% | varies |
| Taney County sales taxes (county + jail + ambulance district)Per the city's official rate sheet for Admissions & Lodging: Taney County 1.5% + county jail 0.375% + Taney County Ambulance District 0.25%. Collected with sales tax (platform-collected for marketplace bookings; host-remitted for direct bookings). Rate sheet is dated 10/01/2020; components may have changed. | 2.125% | varies |
| City of Branson sales taxCity sales tax on lodging per the city's rate sheet. Collected with sales tax (platform for marketplace bookings, host for direct bookings). Combined total tax on lodging in most of Branson is approximately 12.35%. The 1% Branson/Lakes Area TCED sales tax does NOT apply to lodging inside Branson city limits per the city rate sheet. | 2% | varies |
| City of Branson Tourism Tax (accommodations)Sec. 82-93: 4% of the price paid by transient guests, in addition to sales tax. Host must remit directly to the City of Branson finance department by the 20th of the following month. The city states: 'There is NO platform that remits tourism tax on your behalf to the City of Branson. This includes Air Bnb and VRBO.' Late payment incurs a 10% penalty plus 12%/year interest (1% per month). | 4% | host |
Enforcement & penalties
The Fire Department inspects each STR before licensing and every 3 years thereafter, or sooner on complaints (Sec. 22-454). The STR license number must appear on all advertisements and online platforms (Sec. 22-455), and advertising or listing a property is prima facie evidence of operating an STR (Sec. 22-457), which lets the city cite unlicensed listings. Property managers must produce rental records (nights rented, dates, amounts charged) for up to 3 prior years within 10 business days of a city request (Sec. 22-460). The finance director may suspend or revoke an STR permit for code violations, nuisance, false information, or unpaid city obligations (Sec. 22-475). The city publicly reminds residents that nightly rentals are not allowed in Branson's low-density residential neighborhoods and provides a GIS lookup tool for zoning compliance.
Operating or advertising an STR without the required business license and STR permit is unlawful (Secs. 22-452, 22-472). Violations are subject to the general penalty in Sec. 1-13: a fine of up to $500.00 and/or a jail sentence of up to 90 days, with every day a violation continues constituting a separate offense; violating conditions are also deemed a public nuisance subject to abatement. The STR permit can be suspended or revoked, and a business license must be denied to sub-30-day lodging in Low Density Residential districts. Late tourism tax carries a 10% penalty plus 1% per month interest.
⚠️ HOA/condo rules may prohibit STRs regardless of city law.
Recent rule changes in Branson
May 1, 2025material
Ordinance No. 2024-0065 takes effect - new Short-Term Rental framework
Branson's rewritten STR rules took effect: 'Nightly Rental' renamed 'Short-Term Rental'; new Chapter 22 Article VI created (Secs. 22-451 to 22-476) requiring an STR business license per unit/address, a new $150 STR Permit tied to a Fire Department fire-safety inspection valid 3 years, license number in all advertising, designated property manager, record-keeping and posted emergency plans. Business license fee changed from an employee-based scale (unchanged since 1987, ~$50) to a flat $100 per STR unit/address.
Official source →October 8, 2024
Ordinance No. 2024-0088 amends STR safety and permit sections
Before the new framework took effect, the Board of Aldermen amended Sec. 22-459 (safety measures/safety plan posting) and Sec. 22-472 (STR permit requirements, including the emergency-plan contents posted at the main entrance).
Official source →July 23, 2024material
Ordinance No. 2024-0065 (Bill No. 6454) adopted
The Board of Aldermen adopted the STR overhaul amending Chapter 22 and Appendix A (fee schedule) of the Branson Municipal Code (first reading passed 6-0 on July 9, 2024; adopted at second reading July 23, 2024), reaffirming that short-term rentals are prohibited in Low Density Residential Districts (Sec. 22-36) and setting the May 1, 2025 effective date.
Official source →January 1, 2023
Missouri marketplace facilitator law (SB 153 / RSMo 144.752) effective
Marketplace facilitators became required to collect and remit Missouri state and local sales/use tax on facilitated sales, reinforcing platform collection of sales taxes on STR bookings statewide. Branson's 4% city tourism tax remained host-remitted and is not collected by any platform.
Official source →
Frequently asked questions
›Is Airbnb legal in Branson?
Yes — Airbnb and other short-term rentals are legal in Branson, MO, but you must obtain a Short-Term Rental (STR) Permit and Short-Term Rental Business License before operating. Always confirm current requirements with the city before operating.
›Do I need a permit for a short-term rental in Branson?
Yes. Branson requires a Short-Term Rental (STR) Permit and Short-Term Rental Business License to operate a short-term rental, which costs $150 and must be renewed every year. Always confirm current requirements with the city before operating.
›How much does a Branson short-term rental permit cost?
The Short-Term Rental (STR) Permit and Short-Term Rental Business License costs $150 (annual renewal). $150 STR Permit / fire-safety inspection fee per address (permit issued by Fire Department, valid 3 years, transferable with new ownership). In addition: $100 annual STR business-license application fee per Short-Term Rental unit/address (license year runs May 1 - April 30; the fee was changed from an employee-based scale to a flat $100 per unit effective with the 2025 renewal season), plus a one-time $100 tourism-tax bond per STR business, refunded after 3 consecutive years of timely tourism tax payments.
›Can I Airbnb a non-primary residence in Branson?
Yes — Branson does not limit short-term rentals to primary residences. Zoning and other restrictions may still apply. Always confirm current requirements with the city before operating.
›What taxes do short-term rental hosts pay in Branson?
Hosts in Branson are subject to: Missouri state sales tax (4.225%), Taney County sales taxes (county + jail + ambulance district) (2.125%), City of Branson sales tax (2%), City of Branson Tourism Tax (accommodations) (4%) — roughly 12.35% total on gross rental revenue. Platforms like Airbnb collect some of these automatically; check each line's collection method on this page.
›What happens if I operate a short-term rental illegally in Branson?
Operating or advertising an STR without the required business license and STR permit is unlawful (Secs. 22-452, 22-472). Violations are subject to the general penalty in Sec. 1-13: a fine of up to $500.00 and/or a jail sentence of up to 90 days, with every day a violation continues constituting a separate offense; violating conditions are also deemed a public nuisance subject to abatement. The STR permit can be suspended or revoked, and a business license must be denied to sub-30-day lodging in Low Density Residential districts. Late tourism tax carries a 10% penalty plus 1% per month interest. The Fire Department inspects each STR before licensing and every 3 years thereafter, or sooner on complaints (Sec. 22-454). The STR license number must appear on all advertisements and online platforms (Sec. 22-455), and advertising or listing a property is prima facie evidence of operating an STR (Sec. 22-457), which lets the city cite unlicensed listings. Property managers must produce rental records (nights rented, dates, amounts charged) for up to 3 prior years within 10 business days of a city request (Sec. 22-460). The finance director may suspend or revoke an STR permit for code violations, nuisance, false information, or unpaid city obligations (Sec. 22-475). The city publicly reminds residents that nightly rentals are not allowed in Branson's low-density residential neighborhoods and provides a GIS lookup tool for zoning compliance.
Branson's STR rules changed 3 times recently.
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Related
Nearby covered cities
- Broken Bow, OKRestricted
- Nashville, TNPermit required
- Chicago, ILPermit required
- New Orleans, LARestricted
- Austin, TXPermit required
Sources
- City of Branson - Short-Term Rentals (official STR page)retrieved July 10, 2026
- City of Branson - Nightly/Short-Term Rentals (transition page, Ordinance No. 2024-0065)retrieved July 10, 2026
- Branson Municipal Code, Chapter 22, Article VI - Short-Term Rentals (Secs. 22-451 to 22-476)retrieved July 10, 2026
- Branson Municipal Code, Sec. 94-60 - Table of permitted uses (zoning) and Sec. 22-36 (LDR prohibition)retrieved July 10, 2026
- City of Branson - Tourism Tax & Bond Requirementsretrieved July 10, 2026
- City of Branson Sales & Tourism Tax Rates (rate detail PDF, as of 10/01/2020)retrieved July 10, 2026
- Airbnb Help Center - Occupancy tax collection and remittance by Airbnb in Missouriretrieved July 10, 2026
- Branson Globe - Short-term rental ordinances moves forward (Bill No. 6454, July 2024)retrieved July 10, 2026
This page is informational only and is not legal, tax, or financial advice. Rules change and enforcement varies — verify current requirements with Branson and a qualified professional before operating.