St. Tammany Parish, LA Short-Term Rentals: Host Presence Rule (2026)

Section 22-587 defines the 'designated local responsible party' as a person, who can be the operator, listed on the permit application with contact information supplied to guests, who is made available to respond to complaints from guests or neighbors and must be able to appear on the premises within 60 minutes to address issues. Section 22-591(11) turns that definition into an application requirement: the proposed operator must submit a sworn affidavit naming the designated local responsible party and certifying that person is available 24 hours a day whenever the rental is occupied by guests, able to accept phone calls and physically respond to the property within 60 minutes.

The affidavit must also confirm that the responsible party's name, phone number with area code, and email address are given to every guest and posted in a conspicuous, easily accessible spot inside the rental. If the operator later swaps out the designated local responsible party, section 22-591(d) requires notifying the department of planning and development and furnishing a new notarized criminal background check for the replacement, conducted by the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's Office, along with updated contact information. The responsible party can be the operator personally, so an owner-occupant satisfies the rule by naming themselves, but an absentee owner must line up someone local who can genuinely make the 60-minute window.