Short-Term Rental Regulations
in St. Louis (city) County, MO

Airbnb listings are allowed in St. Louis (city) County, MO, but with restrictions. Short-term rentals require a 2-night minimum stay and must have safety devices (smoke/CO alarms, fire extinguishers) and a 24/7 local agent. Occupancy is limited by city rules, and non-occupied STRs are capped at four units per owner with specific limits in multifamily structures; properties with tax abatement or TIF are generally ineligible. 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 require a 2-night minimum stay and must have safety devices (smoke/CO alarms, fire extinguishers) and a 24/7 local agent. Occupancy is limited by city rules, and non-occupied STRs are capped at four units per owner with specific limits in multifamily structures; properties with tax abatement or TIF are generally ineligible.

Yes, a permit is required to operate a short-term rental in St. Louis (city) County. Submit an application via the official STL City Permits portal, ensure the property passes an annual safety inspection, and provide proof that the applicant has no outstanding taxes or obligations to the City. Applicants must be natural persons and designate a 24/7 local agent.

Submit an application via the official STL City Permits portal, ensure the property passes an annual safety inspection, and provide proof that the applicant has no outstanding taxes or obligations to the City. Applicants must be natural persons and designate a 24/7 local agent.

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