St. Tammany Parish, LA Hotels & Lodging: Transient Occupancy Tax (2026)
Key Facts
- Tax rate
- 3% of rental or fee charged
- Applies to
- Hotels, motels, campgrounds, short-term rentals
- Geographic reach
- Incorporated and unincorporated parish
- Long-stay exemption
- 30+ consecutive-day occupants exempt
- Beneficiary
- Parish Tourist and Convention Commission
Summary
St. Tammany Parish levies a 3 percent tax on the rental charged for hotel rooms, motel rooms and overnight camping facilities across both the incorporated and unincorporated parish, and the definition of 'hotel' expressly reaches short-term rentals.
(a)There is hereby levied and imposed within both the incorporated and unincorporated areas of the parish a tax upon the occupancy of hotel rooms, motel rooms and overnight camping facilities, including campgrounds, within the parish for the operations of the commission.(b)The tax levied and imposed hereby is fixed at the rate of three percent of the rental or fee charged for such occupancy as defined and described in this article.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 12 Update 2).
Full Breakdown
Sec. 22-117 imposes and levies the tax within both the incorporated and unincorporated areas of the parish for the operations of the parish tourist and convention commission, fixing the rate at three percent of the rental or fee charged for occupancy. Sec. 22-116 defines 'hotel' to include any establishment, including short term rentals, both public and private, furnishing rooms or overnight camping facilities to transient guests where the establishment has two or more guest rooms; motels, tourist camps and campgrounds with hookups for transient or overnight campers are also swept in.
The definition carves out hospitals, convalescent or nursing homes and sanitariums, plus nonprofit camp and retreat facilities exempt under IRC section 501(c)(3) whose net revenue is devoted wholly to the nonprofit's purposes. Sec. 22-118 exempts rent for a room occupied by the same occupant for 30 or more calendar days, or rooms rented on an annual contractual basis. Under Sec. 22-119 and Sec. 22-120, the tax is paid by the occupant at the time rent is paid, and is collectible from dealers or operators of the taxed facilities.
Sec. 22-121 ties the payment schedule to the parish school board's sales and use tax due dates, meaning the hotel tax is due and payable monthly. Editor's notes confirm Ordinance No. S. 1(M), caps the parish's authority at three percent of rent charged.
Violations & Fines
The tax is collectible from all persons acting as dealers or operators of the taxed facilities under Sec. 22-120, and unpaid amounts carry the penalties, interest and costs set out for state and local sales taxes generally, since Sec. 22-121 ties collection to the parish school board's sales and use tax schedule. Proceeds, less a collection fee, are appropriated to the tourist and convention commission under Sec. 22-123 for attracting conventions and tourists.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is St. Tammany Parish's hotel occupancy tax rate?
Do short-term rentals owe the St. Tammany Parish hotel tax?
Is there an exemption from the hotel tax for long-term guests?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in St. Tammany Parish
Compare St. Tammany Parish to another location·View the Louisiana hotels & lodging overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.