Is Airbnb legal in St. Louis, MO?

Restricted

These rules are changing or in active litigation. Verify the current status directly before you rely on it.

Airbnb is restricted in St. Louis, MO

St. Louis requires a permit in one of two classes: an owner-occupied permit tied to a primary residence, and a non-occupied permit capped at four units per owner, with a two-night minimum stay. Enforcement is unsettled: the permit fee was enjoined April 22, 2025 pending a Hancock Amendment class action, with no final ruling on the merits, and the city paused permitting. A separate 3 percent fee on STR income took effect February 23, 2026.

Ordinance 71729 (2023)View the ordinance

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

See ordinance

How short-term rentals work in St. Louis

The first step in St. Louis is the city's permit or registration process; check the ordinance for the current fee. The status card above has the full detail on the current rules.

Non-owner investors can operate in St. Louis, but within the city's limits above. Read the ordinance closely before you buy, because permits, caps, or zoning can make a specific property ineligible.

What it means for investors

An STR can still work in St. Louis, but the limits shrink the pool of eligible properties and add compliance cost. Underwrite conservatively and confirm the specific address qualifies before you commit.

Analyze a rental hereCheck long-term rent

Short-term rental rules elsewhere in Missouri

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 St. Louis?

St. Louis requires a permit in one of two classes: an owner-occupied permit tied to a primary residence, and a non-occupied permit capped at four units per owner, with a two-night minimum stay. Enforcement is unsettled: the permit fee was enjoined April 22, 2025 pending a Hancock Amendment class action, with no final ruling on the merits, and the city paused permitting. A separate 3 percent fee on STR income took effect February 23, 2026. 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 St. Louis?

Yes. St. Louis 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 St. Louis?

Yes, St. Louis 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 St. Louis?

No specific annual night cap was confirmed for St. Louis, though minimum-stay rules or license caps may effectively limit operations. Check the ordinance.

What taxes apply to a short-term rental in St. Louis?

Short-term rentals in St. Louis 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 Missouri and the city.