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St. Louis, MO Rental Property Rules: Rental Registration (2026)

Significant Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Registration required
at every certificate-of-inspection application
Non-resident owner rule
must designate agent within 100 miles
Enforcement
no certificate issued for unregistered unit
Penalty
up to $500 fine or 90 days jail
Effective
Ord. No. 72025, effective July 11, 2025

Summary

St. Louis requires every rental dwelling unit to be registered with the city in a public database before a certificate of inspection can be issued, and renting without registration is unlawful.

A. Upon the issuance of a certificate of inspection for a rental dwelling unit, the code official shall cause such dwelling to be registered in a publicly accessible database maintained by the City. ... D. No Certificate of inspection can be issued for a rental dwelling unit when the unit is not registered with the City as required by this chapter. E. No person or entity shall rent, let, lease, or otherwise allow the occupancy of any rental dwelling unit unless said unit has been registered as required by this chapter.

Source: St. Louis Building Division Rental InspectionsView official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 11).

Full Breakdown

Under St. Louis Revised Code § 25.56.110, every owner of a rental dwelling unit must register it with the Building Division when applying for or renewing a certificate of inspection, listing the unit's address, the owner's contact information, a good-faith estimate of the asking rent, and who handles yard and emergency maintenance. Owners who don't live in St. Louis must designate a local agent who resides within 100 miles or regularly works from a city office to receive legal notices. No certificate of inspection issues for an unregistered unit, and renting out an unregistered unit is itself unlawful under § 25.56.110(E).

Violations & Fines

Renting an unregistered unit is unlawful; the Building Division withholds certificates of inspection until registration is complete, and Chapter 25.56 violations carry up to a $500 fine or 90 days' imprisonment per day.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to register my rental property in St. Louis?
Yes. Under § 25.56.110, any rental dwelling unit must be registered with the city's Building Division when you apply for or renew a certificate of inspection, and you can't legally rent it out unregistered.
What if I don't live in St. Louis?
You must designate a local agent who lives within 100 miles of the unit or regularly works from a city office, so the Building Division has someone to serve legal notices on.
What happens if I rent out an unregistered unit?
You're violating § 25.56.110(E) and can face a fine up to $500 or up to 90 days in jail per violation, with each day of noncompliance counted separately.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in St. Louis

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All St. Louis rules

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