Greene County, MO Short-Term Rentals: Occupancy Limits (2026)

Greene County has not adopted a numeric occupancy cap (such as '2 per bedroom + 2') for short-term rentals in unincorporated areas. Occupancy is constrained instead by (1) the Greene County Zoning Regulations' definition of a single-family dwelling and any unrelated-occupant limits in the parcel's zoning district, (2) the 2012 International Residential Code adopted by the County which limits occupant load by exit width and bedroom egress, and (3) the on-site wastewater system's design capacity under the Greene County Wastewater Standards (a frequent practical limit for rural parcels on septic). Inside the City of Springfield, the 2024 STR ordinance (City Code Section 36-473) requires STR occupancy to comply with the residential occupancy provisions of the Zoning Ordinance: no more than three unrelated persons in R-SF (single-family) or R-TH (townhouse) districts, or four unrelated persons in R-LD, R-MD, or R-HD multifamily districts. Springfield further classifies STRs as Type 1 (operator-occupied), Type 2 (non-operator-occupied in R-SF/R-TH), or Type 3 (non-operator-occupied in other districts). Confirm specific occupancy and zoning with Greene County Planning and Zoning at (417) 868-4005 or Springfield Planning and Development.