St. Louis rolls out permitting process for short-term rentals

Short-Term Rental Permits: A New Era for St. Louis?

Got a short-term rental in St. Louis? Better get your permit in order, or else! 🚨 Mayor Tishaura Jones announced that operators of short-term rentals have until May 6 to secure a permit or risk losing the ability to host guests. 🔒

New Regulations on the Block

The permits are part of a new set of regulations approved last year, aiming to crack down on the short-term rental industry. As Jones said, “We heard our community members loud and clear, and now St. Louis is following national best practices in regulating this industry.” 🎉

What’s in a Permit?

Not just any license will do. Every property listed on a platform must have an operating permit, and only one person can be listed on four permits. There are also limits on the percentage of units in a multifamily building that can be used for short-term rentals. 🏗️

Additionally, each property must have a rental agent who can be on location within an hour to address problems. And, stays must be two days or longer, to cut down on or eliminate the renting of properties simply to throw parties. 🎉

Platforms, Take Note!

Platforms like Airbnb and VRBO, for instance, must delist any property that has its operating permit revoked by the city. They also won’t be able to complete any bookings for properties that don’t have a permit number. 🚫

A New Fee in Town

St. Louis voters gave a green light to a new 3% fee on short-term rentals, aiming to raise more funds for affordable housing. 💸