Apply for a Short-Term Rental Permit

Ensure your rental meets the permit criteria

View the general permit regulations or the full text of Ordinance 71729 to ensure that your short-term rental is able to follow the regulations.

Determine which type of permit you will need

Two types of permits are available:

• A Short-Term Rental, Non-Occupied permit is for a Short-Term Rental Unit not used as a principal residence by either the owner or a tenant/lessee authorized by the owner.
• A Short-Term Rental, Occupied permit is for a Short-Term Rental Unit used as the principal residence by either the owner or the tenant/lessee authorized by the owner. A resident can have only one principal residence.

Review the process

Visit the Short-Term Rentals page on stlcitypermits to learn more about the process.

Use the Begin Online button below to apply for the permit.

Begin online

The fee for a Short-Term Rental permit is $150.

There is a 2.5% processing fee, with a minimum of $1.50, that is added for credit cards. There is a flat fee of $1.50 added for e-checks. The City does not receive any of these funds.

The forms of payment accepted on this site are:

• American Express
• Discover
• MasterCard
• Visa
• Electronic Check (ACH / Check21)

• If your proposed Short Term Rental is in Zone A: Single- Family Residential Dwelling District, you must sign up for a conditional use hearing.
  • Conditional Use hearings cannot be scheduled until Board Bill 113 becomes law. Applicants who have their permit approval delayed due to this will not be penalized and may continue to operate while their application is pending.
  • After this legislation becomes an ordinance, the Zoning Department will email a link to all applicants awaiting a Conditional Use hearing, which will allow them to schedule and pay for their hearing.
• During the application process, your proposed Short Term Rental will be scheduled for an inspection. After the inspection, the Building Division will evaluate the permit application and make a determination. The determination should occur within 15 business days after the inspection; however, this timeline is subject to change if the volume of applications is particularly high or if information on application is inaccurate, incomplete, or requires additional follow up. 
• Once approved, the applicant will receive an email notification. If the Short Term Rental is a Short Term Rental, Occupied, the applicant should expect to receive the permit via email at this point if approved.
• Any Short Term Rental, Non-Occupied is required to receive a business license. Applicants for a Short Term Rental, Non-Occupied must apply for a business license and use their email notification, with the provided receipt, as evidence that they have been cleared by the Buildings Division to receive a license.
  • Please note, there are additional requirements for a business license that can be found on the License Collector’s website. After receiving their Business License, the applicant must upload this document to their permit application. It will be reviewed by the Building Division and, if approved, a permit will be issued via email at this time. Short-Term Rental Platforms also must seek a business license in the city of St. Louis. 
• After an applicant is approved, the Building Division will continue to monitor issues at the property through its 24/7 complaints hotlines. In addition to complaints, the Building Division will monitor the property for any violations of its permit. Platforms will be responsible for delisting properties in violation of the City’s permitting process or other portions of the City Code.

• All Short Term Rentals and Platforms must be renewed annually and will receive notification 30 calendar days prior to the expiration of their permit indicating that they are eligible for renewal. Any applicant for which a permit that has been revoked, will not be eligible for renewal. If the license or permit is expired, then the occupancy permit will be revoked within 30 calendar days. 
• If, at any point, an applicant is denied a Short Term Rental Permit or Platform permit, they may appeal this decision through the process outlined in Ordinance 71729.

Review the City Ordinance to ensure you will be able to meet the requirements.

Use the Begin Online button to begin your application for a platform permit. You will need to agree to the terms and conditions of the ordinance and pay the fee.

Begin online

The fee for a Short-Term Rental platform is $500.

There is a 2.5% processing fee, with a minimum of $1.50, that is added for credit cards. There is a flat fee of $1.50 added for e-checks. The City does not receive any of these funds.

The forms of payment accepted on this site are:

• American Express
• Discover
• MasterCard
• Visa
• Electronic Check (ACH / Check21)

• Within the first year of the ordinance’s effective date, Short-Term Rental Platforms must meet with the Building Division to provide and receive feedback on implementation.
• Short-Term Rental Platforms that are properly permitted will be listed on the City’s website as permitted platforms in the City of St. Louis.

• All Short Term Rentals and Platforms must be renewed annually and will receive notification 30 calendar days prior to the expiration of their permit indicating that they are eligible for renewal.
• If, at any point, an applicant is denied a Short Term Rental Permit or Platform permit, they may appeal this decision through the process outlined in Ordinance 71729.