Do you need a permit to run an Airbnb in St. Louis?

Yes. St. Louis requires Short-Term Rental, Occupied Permit / Short-Term Rental, Non-Occupied Permit, and the fee is $150. St. Louis enacted a full STR permit regime (Ordinance 71729, operative November 6, 2024) requiring an annual Short-Term Rental Occupied or Non-Occupied permit, a 2-night minimum stay, a 4-unit cap per owner, and a 24/7 rental agent — but a court challenge to the $150 fee has kept the City from enforcing the permit requirements since April 2025, and as of mid-2026 permit applications remain paused. Separately, since February 23, 2026 all STR operators must hold a Short-Term Rental Business License and pay a quarterly 3% license fee on rent (Ordinance 72095, implementing voter-approved Proposition S), on top of state sales tax and the City's 3.5% and 3.75% room taxes.

How much does a short-term rental permit cost in St. Louis?

The Short-Term Rental, Occupied Permit / Short-Term Rental, Non-Occupied Permit fee in St. Louis is $150, renewed annual. Ordinance 71729 sets a non-refundable $150.00 application fee for both Occupied and Non-Occupied permits (platform permits are $500.00). On June 9, 2025 a circuit judge ruled the City could enforce the ordinance only if it does not charge the $150 fee (Hancock Amendment challenge); the City has instead paused all permit applications, inspections, and fee collection. Separately, Ordinance 72095 (effective 2026-02-23) imposes a quarterly license fee of 3% of rent charged, plus a Short-Term Rental Business License requirement.

How to get a short-term rental permit in St. Louis, MO (2026)

St. Louis requires Short-Term Rental, Occupied Permit / Short-Term Rental, Non-Occupied Permit — the fee is $150, renewed annual. Here's how to get and keep it.

Permit at a glance

Permit required	Yes
Permit name	Short-Term Rental, Occupied Permit / Short-Term Rental, Non-Occupied Permit
Permit fee	$150
Renewal	Annual

Step by step

1
Confirm your property is eligible
Confirm the property's zoning allows short-term rentals. Ordinance 71730 (companion zoning bill, Chapter 26.76 of the Revised Code) establishes short-term rental as a permitted use in all zoning districts citywide. However, applicants in Zoning District 'A' (Single-Family Residential) must complete a Conditional Use hearing. Density caps for Non-Occupied permits are set in Ordinance 71729 (Section Four, subsections F-I), not the zoning chapter: 2-unit structures may have both units permitted (both count toward the owner's 4-unit cap); 3-4 unit structures max 1 Non-Occupied permit and total STR-permitted units cannot exceed 50%; 5-23 unit structures up to 25% of units; 24+ unit structures up to 12.5% of units. STRs on parcels benefiting from TIF or tax abatement are ineligible for permits.
2
Apply for the Short-Term Rental, Occupied Permit / Short-Term Rental, Non-Occupied Permit
Submit the Short-Term Rental, Occupied Permit / Short-Term Rental, Non-Occupied Permit application to St. Louis and pay the $150 fee. Ordinance 71729 sets a non-refundable $150.00 application fee for both Occupied and Non-Occupied permits (platform permits are $500.00). On June 9, 2025 a circuit judge ruled the City could enforce the ordinance only if it does not charge the $150 fee (Hancock Amendment challenge); the City has instead paused all permit applications, inspections, and fee collection. Separately, Ordinance 72095 (effective 2026-02-23) imposes a quarterly license fee of 3% of rent charged, plus a Short-Term Rental Business License requirement.
3
Register for occupancy taxes
Register to collect and remit the applicable lodging/occupancy taxes for St. Louis. Some are collected automatically by the booking platform and some you may need to remit yourself.
4
Renew on schedule
The permit renews annual — set a reminder so it never lapses, since operating on an expired permit typically triggers fines.

STR rules change without warning.

Get an email the moment St. Louis changes its short-term rental rules — plus renewal reminders before your permit expires.

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Verified July 21, 2026. Informational only — not legal, tax, or financial advice. Permit requirements and fees change; confirm current requirements with St. Louis before applying.

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