Is Airbnb legal in Baton Rouge, LA?
AllowedAirbnb is allowed in Baton Rouge, LA
Baton Rouge broadly permits STRs, including whole-house rentals in single-family zones. A non-owner-occupied whole-house STR needs a 100 dollar annual permit, while an owner-occupied unit is permit-exempt but must register to remit taxes. Three violations in a year strips the ability to operate for a year.
Verified July 2026. Not legal advice. Rules change and may be enforced differently than written. Confirm with the city before you list.
Key rules at a glance
Permit or registration
Required
Primary residence only
No
Annual night cap
Not confirmed
Registration fee
$100
How short-term rentals work in Baton Rouge
Baton Rouge broadly permits STRs, including whole-house rentals in single-family zones. A non-owner-occupied whole-house STR needs a 100 dollar annual permit, while an owner-occupied unit is permit-exempt but must register to remit taxes. Three violations in a year strips the ability to operate for a year.
Baton Rouge broadly permits short-term rentals. Expect to register and collect lodging tax, but there is real room for an investor STR strategy.
At the state level, Louisiana leaves short-term rental rules to cities and counties.
What it means for investors
Baton Rouge is relatively open to short-term rentals, so an STR strategy is on the table. Run the numbers on a specific property, and compare it to a straight long-term rental to see which pencils better.
Short-term rental rules elsewhere in Louisiana
Last reviewed July 2026. Informational and educational only, not legal advice, and no attorney-client relationship is created. Rules change and may be enforced differently than written. Verify the current ordinance with your local jurisdiction or counsel before acting.
Frequently asked questions
Is Airbnb legal in Baton Rouge?
Baton Rouge broadly permits STRs, including whole-house rentals in single-family zones. A non-owner-occupied whole-house STR needs a 100 dollar annual permit, while an owner-occupied unit is permit-exempt but must register to remit taxes. Three violations in a year strips the ability to operate for a year. This reflects the rules as of July 2026; confirm the current ordinance with the city before you list.
Do I need a permit to run a short-term rental in Baton Rouge?
Yes. Baton Rouge requires a permit or registration to operate a short-term rental, and platforms increasingly require the permit number on the listing.
Can I run a non-owner-occupied Airbnb in Baton Rouge?
Yes, Baton Rouge does not require you to live in the property, though other limits such as caps, zoning, or licensing may still apply.
Is there a limit on how many nights I can rent in Baton Rouge?
No specific annual night cap was confirmed for Baton Rouge, though minimum-stay rules or license caps may effectively limit operations. Check the ordinance.
What taxes apply to a short-term rental in Baton Rouge?
Short-term rentals in Baton Rouge are generally subject to state and local lodging or occupancy taxes on top of income tax. Airbnb and VRBO collect some of these automatically, but not always all of them, so confirm the current rate and who remits it with Louisiana and the city.