Columbia, MO Short-Term Rentals: Short-Term Rental Permits (2026)
Short-term rental permit rules in Columbia, MO, also called Airbnb permits, vacation rental licenses, or STR registration, list the application steps, fees, and operating requirements for hosting.
Key Facts
- Applies in
- City of Columbia, Missouri
- County
- Boone County
- Required
- Registration + certificate of compliance
- Designated agent
- Must be based in Boone County
- Penalty
- Misdemeanor, up to $500 fine
Summary
Columbia, Missouri requires anyone operating a short-term rental in Boone County's largest city to register with the city and hold a certificate of compliance before renting to guests.
Registration for a short-term rental certificate of compliance shall follow the provisions of chapter 22 (Rental Conversation Law) of the City Code. Concurrent with submission of registration forms provided by the city, the registrant shall submit: ... (D) Maximum day. The maximum number of nights annually that the dwelling is to be rented as a short-term rental, and (E) Designated agent. The name, address, and contact number of a designated agent within the County of Boone and accessible twenty-four (24) hours per day, seven (7) days a week...
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
Under Columbia Code of Ordinances § 29-3.3(vv)(2)(iii), registering a short-term rental in Columbia, Missouri means submitting the registrant's identity, the property owner's information if different, proof of the registrant's right to possess the dwelling, the maximum nights sought annually, and a designated agent based in Boone County who can respond around the clock. Registration follows the Chapter 22 Rental Conservation Law process and, together with a Chapter 13 business license, must be completed before any short-term rental in the city may legally operate.
Violations & Fines
Operating an unregistered short-term rental is a misdemeanor; the general penalty under § 1-8 is a fine up to $500, up to 90 days confinement, or both.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to register my short-term rental in Columbia, Missouri?
What information does Columbia require to register?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Columbia
How Columbia compares: Most Airbnb-Friendly Cities in America·Compare Columbia to another location·View the Missouri short-term rentals overview
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