Short-Term Rental Regulations
in St. Paul, MN

Airbnb listings are allowed in St. Paul, MN, but with restrictions. Short-term rentals are permitted citywide but require a City Short-Term Rental Host license; the city distinguishes owner-occupied (hosted) and non-owner-occupied (non-hosted) units. Non-owner-occupied units must have a Fire Certificate of Occupancy (or provisional CO application filed) and applicants must provide proof of ownership/lease; platforms Airbnb, VRBO, and HomeAway are licensed and using them can substitute for an ACORD insurance certificate. Licensing, safety, and zoning requirements (see St. Paul Code §65.645) apply; licenses are subject to investigation by the Director and the Police Chief. A permit is required before you can host. These rules apply to all short-term rental platforms (Airbnb, Vrbo, Booking.com, etc.) — not just Airbnb specifically. See the official source linked on this page for full requirements. Last verified 2026-05-14.

Short-term rentals are permitted citywide but require a City Short-Term Rental Host license; the city distinguishes owner-occupied (hosted) and non-owner-occupied (non-hosted) units. Non-owner-occupied units must have a Fire Certificate of Occupancy (or provisional CO application filed) and applicants must provide proof of ownership/lease; platforms Airbnb, VRBO, and HomeAway are licensed and using them can substitute for an ACORD insurance certificate. Licensing, safety, and zoning requirements (see St. Paul Code §65.645) apply; licenses are subject to investigation by the Director and the Police Chief.

Yes, a permit is required to operate a short-term rental in St. Paul. 1) Apply online via the City of Saint Paul PAULIE portal (Short-Term Rental Host or Non-Owner Occupied application). 2) Upload required documents: proof of ownership or lease, Fire Certificate of Occupancy (or provisional CO application/receipt) for non-owner-occupied units, and proof of insurance (ACORD $300,000) unless using Airbnb/VRBO/HomeAway; close any outstanding building permits. 3) Application will be investigated (Director and Police Chief), pay the per-unit license fee, and renew annually (license expires one year from issuance).

1) Apply online via the City of Saint Paul PAULIE portal (Short-Term Rental Host or Non-Owner Occupied application). 2) Upload required documents: proof of ownership or lease, Fire Certificate of Occupancy (or provisional CO application/receipt) for non-owner-occupied units, and proof of insurance (ACORD $300,000) unless using Airbnb/VRBO/HomeAway; close any outstanding building permits. 3) Application will be investigated (Director and Police Chief), pay the per-unit license fee, and renew annually (license expires one year from issuance).

Vrbo is permitted in St. Paul, MN under the same restrictions that apply to Airbnb — local rules govern the rental itself, not the specific platform. You must hold a valid permit before hosting on Vrbo. Last verified 2026-05-14.

Short-term rental hosts in St. Paul are typically responsible for lodging, occupancy, and applicable sales taxes — these usually apply even where hosting is allowed without a permit. Rates and remittance rules vary by jurisdiction (state, county, and city can each levy a share); confirm the current rates with the official source linked on this page. Platforms such as Airbnb and Vrbo collect some taxes automatically, but the host remains liable for any not collected on their behalf.

We are not currently tracking any recent short-term rental ordinance changes for St. Paul. STR rules change frequently — verify the current requirements with the city or county before listing, using the official source linked on this page.