Short-Term Rental Regulations
in Salem, MO

Airbnb listings are allowed in Salem, MO, but with restrictions. Vacation rentals are allowed with licensing and are treated as conditional uses in residential districts and permitted uses in commercial zones. Requirements include providing one off-street parking space per guest room, limiting occupancy to two adults per bedroom plus two additional adults, maintaining smoke/CO detectors and fire extinguishers, posting emergency contacts, and remitting a 2% Dent County tourism tax. 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.

Vacation rentals are allowed with licensing and are treated as conditional uses in residential districts and permitted uses in commercial zones. Requirements include providing one off-street parking space per guest room, limiting occupancy to two adults per bedroom plus two additional adults, maintaining smoke/CO detectors and fire extinguishers, posting emergency contacts, and remitting a 2% Dent County tourism tax.

Yes, a permit is required to operate a short-term rental in Salem. 1) Submit a written application on forms provided by the City Clerk and pay the required license fee. 2) Undergo an inspection by the Building Inspector; if favorable, the City Clerk issues the license within 30 days. 3) Correct any identified deficiencies within 30 days for re-inspection. Licenses must be renewed annually by December 31.

1) Submit a written application on forms provided by the City Clerk and pay the required license fee. 2) Undergo an inspection by the Building Inspector; if favorable, the City Clerk issues the license within 30 days. 3) Correct any identified deficiencies within 30 days for re-inspection. Licenses must be renewed annually by December 31.

Vrbo is permitted in Salem, MO 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 Salem 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 Salem. STR rules change frequently — verify the current requirements with the city or county before listing, using the official source linked on this page.