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Hotels & Lodging

How St. Louis Handles Hotels & Lodging: A Practical Guide

By CityRuleLookup Editorial Team

St. Louis maintains 204 local ordinances across all categories, and 2 of those deal specifically with hotels & lodging. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where St. Louis falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.

Transient Occupancy Tax

St. Louis hotel guests pay roughly 17% in combined taxes — city hotel/convention tax, St. Louis County tax for some properties, Missouri state sales tax, and a Convention and Sports facility surcharge.

Key details: Combined rate: Approximately 17%. City vs County: Different jurisdictions. Convention surcharge: Funds dome/convention. STR remittance: MO §67.187.

Failure to collect or remit hotel taxes, under-reporting room nights, or operating an unregistered short-term rental can trigger back taxes, penalties under MO §144, and city license action.

Hotel Living Wage

The St. Louis Living Wage Ordinance requires city contractors and tax-incentivized employers — including hotels receiving TIF or tax abatements — to pay above the Missouri minimum wage with health benefits.

Key details: Ordinance: 65597. Coverage: Contractors + TIF recipients. State preemption: MO §285.055. Indexed to: Federal poverty level.

Contractors or subsidy recipients paying below the living wage can lose their contract or incentive, owe back pay, and be barred from future city procurement.

Compared to other cities, St. Louis takes a harder line on hotel living wage. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

The Bottom Line

St. Louis's hotels & lodging rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming St. Louis is broadly strict or permissive.

Keep in mind that St. Louis can amend these rules at any council meeting. For the most current version of any rule mentioned here, check the specific ordinance page, where we track updates as they happen.