Springfield, MO Hotels & Lodging: Transient Occupancy Tax (2026)
Key Facts
- Tax rate
- 5% of gross rental receipts
- Applies to
- stays of 31 days or less
- Covers
- hotels, motels, short-term rentals
- Filing
- Paid monthly by the 20th
Summary
Springfield, Missouri levies a 5% license tax on gross rental receipts from hotels, motels, tourist courts and short-term rentals, charged to guests staying 31 days or less.
No person shall engage in the business of renting, leasing or letting living quarters, sleeping accommodations, rooms or a part thereof, in connection with any hotel, motel, or tourist court, or short-term rental without first securing a license under this section or having a current license under this section for such activity from the city which license shall be in addition to any other license issued by the city. The license shall be issued for a specific location designated in the license. If the owner of the property is not the licensee the owner of the property shall grant its permission to the licensee to use the property for the purpose of renting, leasing or letting living quarters, sleeping accommodations, rooms or a part thereof, in connection with any hotel, motel, tourist court, or short-term rental. This license shall not be transferred to a new licensee for the property nor shall a license be reissued unless all outstanding license taxes required under this article have been paid. Every person engaged in the business of renting, leasing or letting living quarters, sleeping accommodations, rooms or a part thereof, in connection with any hotel, motel, tourist court, or short-term rental, shall pay to the city a license tax equal to five percent of the gross rental receipts derived from or paid by transient guests for sleeping accommodations.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 23 Update 2 | Land Development Code: Supplement 9 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
City Code § 70-262 requires anyone renting rooms through a hotel, motel, tourist court or short-term rental in Springfield to hold a city license and pay a license tax equal to five percent of gross rental receipts from transient guests: defined at § 70-261 as guests staying 31 days or less. The tax is separate from, and in addition to, any other business license the operator holds, and it is paid monthly to the director of finance by the 20th of the following month (§ 70-263). Under § 70-267, the revenue funds tourism promotion, sporting events, arts and cultural tourism, and related capital debt service.
Violations & Fines
Renting without the § 70-262 license, or failing to remit the collected tax, is treated as a delinquent tax subject to penalty and interest under RSMo 144.170/144.250 and can result in a lien on the property.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Springfield's hotel tax apply to Airbnb-style short-term rentals?
How is the Springfield hotel tax revenue used?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Springfield
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