Lake Charles, LA Hotels & Lodging: Transient Occupancy Tax (2026)
Key Facts
- License fee
- $100.00 per unit, per year
- Governing section
- City Code § 12-15.4
- Stay length
- 1 night up to 29 nights
- Occupancy cap
- 2 guests per bedroom plus 2
- Residential zones
- Require minor conditional use permit
Summary
Lake Charles requires every short-term rental, a dwelling let for under 30 days but at least one night, to carry an annual $100.00 occupational license per unit under City Code § 12-15.4. Operators must run bookings through a platform that remits local hotel tax or supply yearly proof of tax compliance, and must name a local emergency contact on the application.
(a)An occupational license shall be obtained and a fee of $100.00 shall be paid yearly for each dwelling unit offered for short-term rental purposes.(b)Each short-term rental must either utilize a book platform that remits local taxes including hotel tax or must show proof of tax compliance on a yearly basis.(c)A local emergency contact or designee identified by name, address, telephone number and email address shall be provided with the application for occupational license.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 20).
Full Breakdown
2). 4. Wherever they operate, rentals may not host commercial events such as concerts, weddings or block parties, occupancy is capped at two guests per bedroom plus two more, all parking must be accommodated on site, and required signage must follow § 5-211 of the zoning ordinance. 00 annual fee for each dwelling unit rented short-term. Because short-term rental income is subject to hotel occupancy tax, the code requires that each rental either use a booking platform that remits local hotel tax on the host's behalf or show proof of tax compliance on a yearly basis, so the city can confirm the tax was actually collected and paid.
The application must also identify a local emergency contact or designee by name, address, phone number and email so code enforcement or first responders can reach someone quickly.
Violations & Fines
Chapter 12 carries no dedicated short-term rental penalty, so a violation, operating without the $100.00 occupational license, skipping the hotel tax remittance or compliance proof, or renting in a residential district without the required minor conditional use permit, falls under the Code's general penalty in § 1-8: a fine of up to $1,000.00, up to six months imprisonment, or both, with each day of noncompliance charged as a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Lake Charles short-term rentals need a license?
Is a short-term rental allowed in a residential neighborhood?
Does a host still owe hotel tax on rental income?
How many guests can stay in a Lake Charles short-term rental?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Lake Charles
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