Short-Term Rental Laws in Springfield, Missouri

Springfield, Missouri operates a three-tier STR framework (Ordinance 6471, effective 2019). Type 1 (Owner-Occupied / Host-Present) STRs are permitted broadly in residential zones with registration. Type 2 (Owner-Occupied / Whole-Home, host away during rental) has stricter conditions but is permitted with registration. Type 3 (Non-Owner-Occupied / Investor) STRs in single-family residential zones (R-SF, R-LD, R-MD) require a Conditional Use Permit from the Planning + Zoning Commission with public notice + neighborhood input. Multi-family + commercial zones permit Type 3 more readily. Bass Pro Shops headquarters + Missouri State University + the Ozarks/Branson-corridor positioning drive STR demand.

Type 1 + Type 2 (owner-occupied) permitted in R-SF, R-LD, R-MD, R-HD residential zones with registration. Type 3 (non-owner-occupied) in R-SF, R-LD, R-MD requires CUP from Planning + Zoning Commission. R-HD multi-family, GR (general retail), HC (highway commercial), MX (mixed-use), and CC (center city) zones permit Type 3 with registration. The Center City + Historic Districts (Walnut Street, West Walnut, Mid-Town) have HPC design-review overlays. Properties in MSU-adjacent neighborhoods + the Bass Pro / Wonders of Wildlife district draw the most STR investor activity.

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

Springfield Building Development Services + Planning + Zoning Commission jointly administer. Annual registration. Application requires designated 24/7 local contact within Greene County, proof of property insurance, life-safety inspection (smoke + CO + fire extinguisher + posted occupancy), parking plan, and (Type 3) CUP approval. Springfield Finance + Greene County Collector collect the hotel/motel + sales taxes monthly. Operating unregistered: $500+ first violation, escalating. Code Enforcement cross-references Airbnb/Vrbo against the registry.

Combined short-term lodging tax in Springfield is approximately 12.600% of gross nightly revenue (state sales + state TRT + local TRT + applicable resort/city options).

Missouri State sales tax 4.225% + Greene County sales 1.75% + Springfield city sales 2.125% + Hotel/Motel Tax 5% + Tourism District assessment ~0.5% — combined ~12.6% on transient lodging; confirm at Springfield Finance Department

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