Short-Term Rental Regulations
in Washington, MO

Airbnb listings are allowed in Washington, MO, but with restrictions. Vacation rentals are regulated as 'Vacation Rental Dwellings By Owner' and require a special-use permit; in R-2 Overlay Districts, they must be at least 150 feet from existing rentals. Operators must file quarterly tourism-tax reports with the City Collector; failure to submit reports for two consecutive quarters results in automatic permit revocation. New operations require an approved Certificate of Occupancy and an annual business license. 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 regulated as 'Vacation Rental Dwellings By Owner' and require a special-use permit; in R-2 Overlay Districts, they must be at least 150 feet from existing rentals. Operators must file quarterly tourism-tax reports with the City Collector; failure to submit reports for two consecutive quarters results in automatic permit revocation. New operations require an approved Certificate of Occupancy and an annual business license.

Yes, a permit is required to operate a short-term rental in Washington. 1) File a written Special Use Permit application with the Zoning Administrator, including a site plan and owner signature. 2) The application is reviewed by the Planning & Zoning Commission and then the City Council, which holds a public hearing for authorization. 3) Obtain a City business license and annual occupancy permit (renewed annually July 1–June 30) and submit quarterly tourism tax reports to the City Collector.

1) File a written Special Use Permit application with the Zoning Administrator, including a site plan and owner signature. 2) The application is reviewed by the Planning & Zoning Commission and then the City Council, which holds a public hearing for authorization. 3) Obtain a City business license and annual occupancy permit (renewed annually July 1–June 30) and submit quarterly tourism tax reports to the City Collector.

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