Short-Term Rental Laws in Branson, Missouri

Branson — one of the country's top-5 STR markets by listings density — operates a Vacation Rental Permit framework (Ordinance 2018-3162). STRs are permitted in specific zoning districts only: Tourism Commercial (TC), Highway Commercial (HC), Mixed-Use (MU), Resort (R), and certain Planned Development districts. Single-family residential zones (R-1, R-2, R-3) prohibit Vacation Rental use as new operations — only grandfathered permits predating the ordinance continue, and they cannot be transferred to new owners. The framework is among the more restrictive in the central US specifically because Branson's economy is built around hotel-resort + theatrical-show tourism rather than residential-neighborhood STR.

Allowed zones: Tourism Commercial (TC), Highway Commercial (HC), Mixed-Use (MU), Resort (R), and master-planned resort developments (Big Cedar, Stonebridge, Pointe Royale, Thousand Hills). R-1, R-2, R-3 single-family residential zones do NOT permit new Vacation Rental operations — pre-ordinance grandfathered permits continue but are non-transferable. The major resort PUDs handle most investor inventory — confirm parcel zoning via Branson Planning before any offer. Table Rock Lake / Lake Taneycomo shoreline properties in the City fall under the same zoning rules; unincorporated Taney County (Hollister, Forsyth, lake-adjacent unincorporated areas) has a SEPARATE Taney County STR permit framework.

Operators must hold a short-term rental permit before listing. See the official permit portal.

Branson Planning + Development Services administers Vacation Rental Permits. Annual renewal. Application requires designated local 24/7 contact within Taney County, proof of property insurance, life-safety inspection (smoke + CO + fire extinguisher + posted occupancy + emergency exit signage), parking plan, and zoning verification. Branson Finance Department collects the 5% Tourism Tax monthly. Operating unpermitted: $500+ first violation, escalating to $1,000+ subsequent. Branson Code Enforcement cross-references Airbnb/Vrbo listings actively and pursues unpermitted operations aggressively given the residential-zone restriction.

Combined short-term lodging tax in Branson is approximately 13.850% of gross nightly revenue (state sales + state TRT + local TRT + applicable resort/city options).

Missouri State sales tax 4.225% + Taney County sales 1.625% + Branson city sales 1.5% + Branson Tourism Tax 5% + Tourism Community Enhancement District assessment 1.5% — combined ~13.85% on transient lodging; confirm at Branson Finance Department

Verify the current combined rate via the Utah State Tax Commission before remitting — rates drift quarterly.