Kirkwood, MO Short-Term Rentals: Short-Term Rental Permits (2026)

Section 25-36(k)(9) of the Kirkwood Code lists the steps an owner must complete prior to renting or advertising a short-term rental. First, the owner must obtain any necessary zoning approvals confirming the property qualifies as an owner-occupied, detached single-family dwelling under § 25-36(k)(1). Second, the owner must apply for and obtain an occupancy permit specific to the short-term rental use; that permit is valid for only 12 months, after which the owner must apply for renewal to keep operating. Third, the owner must apply for and obtain a business license from the City under Chapter 13 of the Municipal Code.

That license is directly tied to compliance: it can be revoked for a violation of § 13-54, and once revoked, no new short-term rental business license can be issued for a full year, effectively shutting the property out of the program for that period. Fourth, the owner must provide the name, address and telephone number of a local contact person who is reachable 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and who must respond to complaints about the condition, operation or conduct of guests within 45 minutes.

Failure of either the owner or that contact person to respond to calls or complaints is itself grounds for revoking the business license, layering a responsiveness requirement on top of the paperwork requirements. These four steps apply on top of the underlying use standards in § 25-36(k), including the one-per-block limit and bedroom caps by district.