Short-term rentals in Maryland Heights, explained properly.

Section 25-29.2(B)(2) says the rental period shall not exceed thirty days for one individual or group of individuals. At his or her discretion, the building commissioner may allow the rental period to exceed thirty days in the case of extenuating circumstances.

Section 25-29.2(A)(1) limits short-term rental to rental of the entire dwelling. Section 25-29.2(A)(2) restricts it to the dwelling unit, and the use of accessory buildings for living space is prohibited.

Section 25-29.2(B)(3) sets the minimum renter age at twenty-one years and requires it to be confirmed with a state-issued identification, a government-issued passport book or a government-issued passport card. The identification must be provided to the owner, manager or booking service at the time of booking, or before the start of the rental period.

Section 25-29.2(B)(1) ties the limit to the maximum allowable occupants of the dwelling under Chapter 6 (Buildings and Building Regulations) of the Municipal Code. Chapter 6 hasn't been reviewed yet, so the figure for a given dwelling is not shown here; ask the City's building division.

Section 25-29.2(C)(2) applies to the owner of the dwelling or the manager of the short-term rental. If neither is within close proximity or able to respond, the owner shall designate an individual who can respond or act on the owner's behalf.

Section 25-29.2(A) provides that accessory buildings may not be used for living space, that a short-term rental shall not result in structural alterations or additions that change the dwelling's primary use (subject to review by the city planner and building commissioner), and that it shall be clearly incidental and secondary to the residential use of the premises without changing its residential character.

Section 25-29.2(A)(5) and (6) set these two limits. The article does not give a parking space count; the standard is the effect on traffic flow in residential areas.

Section 25-29.2(C)(4) applies to the owner of the dwelling, the manager of the short-term rental or the booking service. Section 25-29.2(C)(5) adds that short-term rental must comply with all local, county, state and federal regulations that apply to the activity, and the article is not an exemption from them.

Section 25-29.3 says enforcement generally follows Section 25-10 (Administration and Enforcement) of the zoning code. Nuisances are enforced by the Police Department under Section 17-202 (Criminal Nuisances). The building commissioner may also have a summons issued to the owner to appear in the Municipal Court of Maryland Heights, as for other violations of the zoning code under Section 25-10.2. Fine amounts are in the zoning code and Municipal Code sections the article points to, which haven't been reviewed yet, so they are not shown here.

Section 144.020.1(6) of the Revised Statutes of Missouri imposes a tax equivalent to four percent on the amount of sales or charges for all rooms, meals and drinks furnished at any hotel, motel, tavern, inn, restaurant, eating house, drugstore, dining car, tourist cabin, tourist camp or other place in which rooms, meals or drinks are regularly served to the public. The Department of Revenue says the state sales and use tax is 4.225 percent in total, split among General Revenue (3.0 percent), Education (1.0 percent), Conservation (0.125 percent) and Parks/Soils (0.10 percent), and that cities, counties and special taxing districts may add their own sales taxes. The sources read do not say whether, or when, a privately owned home rented for short stays counts as a place in which rooms are regularly served to the public; check with the Department of Revenue. City and county taxes are shown on each place's page.

Section 144.752, in effect since January 1, 2023, requires marketplace facilitators that do business in Missouri to register with the Department of Revenue to collect and remit use tax on sales made through their marketplaces that are delivered into the state. The section's definition of a marketplace facilitator does not include a person with respect to the provision of travel agency services, which it defines as facilitating, for a commission, fee or other consideration, travel packages, travel reservations, tickets, or hotel or other lodging accommodations. The Department of Revenue pages read do not say whether booking platforms collect state sales tax on short-term rental stays; check with the platform and the Department of Revenue. City rules on platform collection of city taxes are shown on each place's page.

A word search of the Revised Statutes of Missouri found no section regulating the short-term rental of homes, so local rules apply. In the 2026 Regular Session, House Bill 1768 (combined with HB 2060), which modifies provisions relating to the classification of certain residential real property used for short-term rentals, was sent to the Senate, which adopted its own substitute; its last action, on May 15, 2026, was referral to the House Fiscal Review Committee, and the House bill page shows it was not truly agreed to and finally passed. In the 2025 Regular Session, House Bill 1086 on the same subject was last voted do pass by a Senate committee on May 1, 2025. A similar bill could be filed in a later session.