Columbia, MO Short-Term Rentals: Occupancy Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Applies in
- City of Columbia, Missouri
- County
- Boone County
- Max occupants
- 8, all STR tiers
- Standard used
- IPMC occupancy limitations
- Posting required
- Limit posted inside unit
Summary
Columbia, Missouri caps every short-term rental dwelling unit at eight occupants total, regardless of which STR tier the property is licensed under.
Maximum occupancy. The maximum number of occupants permitted in a dwelling unit offered and operated as a short-term rental shall be subject to the "occupancy limitations" of the most recently adopted edition of the International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC). In no instance, regardless of short-term rental tier designation, shall a dwelling unit be occupied by more than a total of eight (8) occupants.
(vi) Parking. In such instances where the parking requirements of an overlay zoning district or the mixed use - downtown (M-DT) district conflict with the parking requirements set forth in section 29-3.3 (vv)(1) above, the parking requirements of the overlay zoning district or M-DT district shall control.
(vii) Reservations. Only one (1) rental reservation at a time shall be permissible for each short-term rental. If rented "in part" and additional occupancy is permitted, it shall be unlawful to have a second reservation for the same dwelling.
(viii) Dwelling unit usage. Dwellings licensed for short-term rental usage shall not be used for special events such as weddings, corporate events, commercial functions, large parties (greater than eight (8) persons), and other similar events or activities otherwise prohibited by this Code.
(ix) Certificate of compliance posting. The short-term rental certificate of compliance issued by the city shall be conspicuously posted at the entry of the dwelling unit or in a readily available location onsite
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 138).
Full Breakdown
Columbia Code of Ordinances § 29-3.3(vv)(2)(v) ties short-term rental occupancy to the occupancy limitations of the adopted International Property Maintenance Code, but layers a hard citywide ceiling on top: no dwelling unit licensed as a short-term rental within the City of Columbia, Missouri may be occupied by more than eight people at once, whether it is licensed as a Tier 1, Tier 2, or Tier 3 rental. The same use-specific standards bar short-term rental dwellings from hosting weddings, corporate events, or parties larger than eight people.
Violations & Fines
Exceeding the eight-occupant cap violates § 29-3.3(vv) and the Chapter 29 penalty provision, § 29-6.6, and can lead to revocation of the short-term rental certificate of compliance.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many people can stay in a Columbia, Missouri short-term rental?
Does the occupancy cap change for larger rental homes?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Columbia
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