Short-Term Rental Permits Frequently Asked Questions

Overview

In November 2023, Ordinance 71729, which regulates short-term rentals (STRs) in the City of St. Louis, became law. The ordinance will go into effect on November 6, 2024. Under the ordinance, all platforms seeking to list Short-Term Rentals and all Short-Term Rentals will be required to have a permit to operate.

On April 30, 2024, the Board of Public Service put into effect rules related to Short-Term Rentals that can be found here.

General Questions

What does Ordinance 71729 do?

Ordinance 71729 provides a basic framework to regulate short-term rentals in the city of St. Louis. 

• Short-Term Rental Permits will not be granted to any Short-Term Rental Unit which offers a minimum stay of less than two (2) nights or is located within a structure or upon a parcel actively benefiting from tax increment financing or tax abatement. 
• Those operating short-term rentals can have their permit revoked for any nuisance behavior. 
• Those operating Short-Term Rentals must use their best efforts to ensure that use of the premises by Short-Term Rental occupants will not disrupt the neighborhood, and will not interfere with the rights of neighboring property owners to the quiet enjoyment of their properties. 
• The number of people allowed to stay at a Short-Term Rental will be limited to the occupancy limit.
• All Short-Term Rental Permits will require that the applicant not have any outstanding taxes or other obligations to the City of St. Louis. 
• Short-Term Rental Units will be required to have posted rules in the unit and a dedicated Short-Term Rental Agent capable of addressing concerns 24/7. 
• The permit holder of a Short-Term Rental unit may not enter into a contract with more than one (1) renter during any given rental period. 
• The Short-Term Rental unit may not be rented or offered for use as reception space, party space, meeting space, or for other similar events. 
• No food service may be provided by the permit holder of the Short- Term Rental; prepackaged foods and beverages may be provided in the Short-Term Rental Unit.
• No exterior evidence that the property is being used as a Short-Term Rental shall be allowed, including signs, with the exception of a marker limited to one (1) foot by one (1) foot in size issued by the City of St. Louis. 
• The Short-Term Rental unit shall have working smoke detectors inside and outside every bedroom, carbon monoxide alarms outside every bedroom, and a properly maintained and charged fire extinguisher on all habitable floors.  

How does Ordinance 71729 change the City’s process regarding short-term rentals?

This is the first time St. Louis will require a permit to operate a short-term rental. In other words, this was a deregulated industry in St. Louis and now it will be a regulated one, following national best practices. Short-Term rentals will be required to meet certain standards and can and will have their permit revoked for unauthorized activities. This ordinance also places restrictions on how many short-term rentals can operate in multi-family structures. 

From a technology standpoint, St. Louis is also stepping up its game to establish real time issue monitoring. Through this system, the City will scan rental listing sites and use human analysts to identify rental properties allowing the City to know where they are operating and if they have a permit. The city will also have a short-term rental specific hotline, both online and by phone where residents can report short-term rental related issues. Working collaboratively, the Building Division, SLMPD, Problem Properties, Neighborhood Stabilization and other departments as needed, will meet regularly to address problematic properties. 

How many short-term rentals are in the City of St. Louis?

Most recent data shows that we have 2,110 short-term rental units in the city. Given that short-term rentals are often listed on multiple platforms, we have 3,409 listings for short-term rentals in the city.

Operator Questions

When will I be able to apply for a permit?

November 6, 2024.

Those seeking a permit will have until May 6, 2024 to get their permit before they will be in violation of the ordinance. All Short-Term Rental must seek a permit; however, they do have until May 6, 2025 to come into compliance and obtain their permit.

What is an occupied short-term rental unit?

A “Short-Term Rental, Occupied” means a Short-Term Rental Unit used as the principal residence by either the owner or the tenant/lessee of the owner and authorized by the owner for Short-Term Rental. A resident can have only one principal residence. In sum, this means that the individual offering the rental is renting their principal residence out. This could include a room or the whole unit. You can only get one of this type of permit.

What is a short-term, non occupied?

“Short-Term Rental, non occupied” means a Short-Term Rental Unit not used as a principal residence by either the owner or the tenant/lessee and authorized by the owner for Short-Term Rental. In sum, this means that the individual offering the rental does not consider this place to be their principal residence. Owners are only able to seek four of this type of permit. They need both a permit and a business license to operate.

I have a garage that I want to rent out as a STR, can I?

If there is no bathroom and no kitchen in the unit, then no, you cannot have your garage function as a short-term rental unit. If your garage (or carriage house, or mother-in-law unit) does have its own kitchen and bathroom, then yes, this could be a short-term rental and it would be considered occupied since the owner or tenant’s principal residence is on the property. The unit needs to qualify for an occupancy permit.

Will this impact my ability to lease my home or apartment?

No. You will still be able to rent your home or apartment on a long term basis as you would prior to this ordinance.

Will I need a business license?

For short-term rentals, non occupied, a business license will be required and the property will be taxed at a commercial rate.

Will I need an inspection?

As a condition of getting a permit, all properties will need an occupancy permit and an inspection is required to get that permit.

Will I need a permit?

All short-term rentals will need a permit.

If I currently operate a short-term rental, do I need to stop booking for one night stays given that the Ordinance establishes a minimum stay of two nights?

No. However, once the property has a permit, it must comply with the two night minimum. Furthermore, if an applicant continues to book under the minimum night stay and other nuisance behavior occurs, this behavior will be considered in their application. Nuisance behavior will not be tolerated and those who commit nuisance behavior will not be able to get a permit. The November 6th period until May 6th is intended as a grace period for applicants to get into compliance with the new permitting system.

Will I be able to submit my application for a Short Term Rental if my property is within a residential zone?

Please be advised that applicants in Zoning District "A" - Single-Family Residential must complete a Conditional Use hearing. Applicants will be able to schedule their inspections as well as pay for and complete their application for a Short-Term Rental Permit, however Conditional Use hearings are not able to be scheduled or conducted until after Board Bill 113 becomes law. View more information on BB 113.

After this legislation becomes an ordinance, the Zoning Department will send a link to all applicants awaiting a Conditional Use hearing via email which will allow them to schedule and pay for their hearing. Applicants who have their permit approval delayed due to BB 113 will not be penalized and may continue to operate while their application is pending.

Community Questions

Will this allow for Short-Term Rentals everywhere in the City? 

This ordinance does not prohibit short-term rentals in specific neighborhoods but it does cap the number of short-term rentals in multifamily structures and limits the total number an operator can operate. Short-term rentals operating and Residential Zone A will be required to get a conditional use permit. The ordinance also prohibits Short-Term rentals from operating on any parcel currently receiving a tax abatement or TIF.

How will non-compliant STRs be addressed?

Short-Term Rental operators will have a grace period from November 6, 2024 until May 6, 2025 to apply for a short-term rental permit. Because STRs will be required to apply for a permit, that permit can then be revoked if they violate this ordinance. Operating without a permit will be against the law. Revocation proceedings can begin upon the first violation or complaint. If there are three violations within 24 months, the operating permit will be revoked. There will be a portal to monitor complaints. The property, subject to notification and a hearing, could have its permit revoked and would not be able to operate for a year. After that year, the individual would have to reapply.

Fully adjudicated violations prosecuted in municipal court involving a property that is a Short-Term Rental Unit will be assessed a $500.00 fine per violation. With respect to violations that are continuous with respect to time, each day the violation continues shall be deemed a separate offense.

Why is the city not banning short-term rentals?

Short-term rentals can contribute positively to tourism in our City and provide additional income for residents. With proper regulation allowing that facilities getting bad actors shut down, it is not necessary to ban short-term rentals. There are already thousands of unregulated STRs in the city. Our goal is to set standards and bring compliance, not eliminate this industry.

How will I voice concerns about a short-term rental in my area?

Residents will have access to a publicly available short-term rental hotline both online and in person. Use of this hotline will generate a report and contact the short-term rental agent to notify them that they must resolve the issue on site.

Do Short-Term Rentals negatively impact affordable housing? 

The impact of STRs on affordable housing stock is of concern. This is why these entities should be regulated so that the City can avoid an oversaturation of units that do not provide homes for residents.