Home / Cities / St. Louis

Is Airbnb legal in St. Louis, Missouri?

Permit law paused by court order; a new 3% quarterly fee still applies. Ordinance 71729 created a permit system for every St. Louis short-term rental, but a Circuit Court order in April 2025 stopped the city from accepting applications, inspecting, or issuing permits, and the pause stood through 2026. No permit is currently required, but a separate Ordinance 72095 took effect February 23, 2026: operators must hold a short-term rental business license and pay a quarterly 3% fee on rent to an affordable-housing fund.

Showing the researched rules for St. Louis, MO below. Type your St. Louis address to jump to the verdict.

Legal

Permit law paused by court order; a new 3% quarterly fee still applies

Ordinance 71729 created a permit system for every St. Louis short-term rental, but a Circuit Court order in April 2025 stopped the city from accepting applications, inspecting, or issuing permits, and the pause stood through 2026. No permit is currently required, but a separate Ordinance 72095 took effect February 23, 2026: operators must hold a short-term rental business license and pay a quarterly 3% fee on rent to an affordable-housing fund.

Permit and costs

Permit
Short-Term Rental Business License (Ordinance 72095)
Issued by
City of St. Louis License Collector
Cost
Quarterly fee of 3% of rent charged; no fixed license fee found
Renewal
Quarterly payments

Key limits

Enforcement paused
The city is not accepting or issuing STR permit applications or conducting inspections while the court order stands.
3% fee active
The quarterly 3% fee on rent charged applies regardless of the permit pause.
State sales tax
Missouri's 4.225% state sales tax registration is still required for every host.
Rules could return
The underlying permit rules were never repealed, so enforcement could resume if the court order lifts.

Taxes

Hotel and Prop S
7.25% city hotel tax plus 3% Proposition S fee, both active regardless of the permit dispute
State sales tax
4.225% Missouri state sales tax on room charges

Registration checklist

  1. 1
    Get the business license
    Obtain the short-term rental business license from the License Collector's office.
  2. 2
    Register for sales tax
    Register with the Missouri Department of Revenue for state sales tax collection.
  3. 3
    Remit quarterly
    File and pay the 3% fee on rent charged every quarter.

What could change this verdict

Your HOA
Condo and HOA rules can ban STRs even while the city permit is paused, so check the governing documents.
Rule changes
Watch the Hancock Amendment lawsuit over the $150 fee, since its outcome decides whether permit enforcement resumes.

Sources

St. Louis STR guide (2026) · Avalara on St. Louis's new 3% STR fee

Rules researched October 2026. They change, so verify with the city before you buy.

Want this verified for your exact address?

$75 per address
  • Verdict for your parcel, not just the city
  • Permit name, fee, and renewal schedule
  • Night caps, occupancy rules, and key limits
  • Tax rates and a step-by-step checklist

Free during early access. Run the free address check

Also check

Branson, MO Kansas City, MO Gulf Shores, AL Orange Beach, AL All 103 cities
Verify before you buy. Rules change often and vary by zoning, HOA, and building type. This is a research starting point, not legal advice. Always confirm with the city's planning or business-license office before signing anything.