Is Airbnb legal in Saint Louis?

In St. Louis, short-term rental (STR) hosts are now required to obtain city permits to operate, following a new law that took effect on November 6, 2024. Operators have until May 6, 2025, to secure these permits. Each individual can obtain a maximum of four permits, each requiring a $150 application fee. Importantly, permits must be issued to individuals rather than LLCs.

For those operating in areas designated for single-family residential use, a public conditional use hearing is mandatory as part of the application process. The regulation also enforces a minimum stay requirement of two nights, aimed at reducing disruptive parties. Hosts must designate an agent available to address urgent issues within one hour, 24/7.

To ensure compliance, St. Louis has partnered with a third-party service to monitor STR activities and verify permits. An STR hotline will be established for residents to report issues, and operators who accumulate three violation notices within 24 months may face fines or revocation of their permits for up to a year.

Marketplaces like Airbnb and Vrbo are prohibited from processing bookings for properties without valid permit numbers and must remove listings of those whose permits have been revoked.

Additionally, STR hosts are responsible for paying state and local taxes and collecting a new 3% fee approved by voters, benefitting affordable housing initiatives. Notably, while Airbnb automatically collects these taxes for its hosts, Vrbo does not, making it crucial for hosts on that platform to ensure compliance independently.

These regulations are part of St. Louis's efforts to balance tourism promotion with neighborhood stability, as affirmed by city officials.