Springfield, MO Short-Term Rentals: Short-Term Rental Permits (2026)
Short-term rental permit rules in Springfield, MO, also called Airbnb permits, vacation rental licenses, or STR registration, list the application steps, fees, and operating requirements for hosting.
Key Facts
- Governing section
- LDC § 36-473(2)(c)
- Applies to
- Non-owner-occupied STRs in R-SF/R-TH
- Meeting notice
- Mailed 10 days before, to 500 ft
- Denial trigger
- 2 or 30% owner objections, greater
Summary
Non-owner-occupied short-term rentals in Springfield's single-family and townhouse districts must obtain a type 2 permit, which requires the applicant to hold a mailed-notice neighborhood meeting before approval.
A short-term rental type 2 permit shall be required for short-term rental type 2 uses. ... Applicant(s) shall hold a neighborhood meeting at the property involved in the application or in the immediate vicinity. Notice of the meeting shall be sent by first-class mail, postage paid, at least 10 days prior to the meeting, to the owner of each real property within 500 feet of the short-term rental property, as shown on the records of the county assessor.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 23 Update 2 | Land Development Code: Supplement 9 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
A short-term rental type 2, a non-owner-occupied rental in an R-SF or R-TH district, cannot open in Springfield without a permit issued under LDC § 36-473(2)(c). The applicant must hold a neighborhood meeting at or near the property, mailing notice at least ten days beforehand to every owner and occupant within 500 feet and to registered neighborhood associations, and posting a sign for at least 31 days. Within ten days of the meeting, the applicant must file a written summary; if at least two owners, or 30 percent of nearby owners (whichever is greater), file written objections, the application must be denied, subject to appeal to the planning and zoning commission.
Violations & Fines
Violating any part of § 36-473, including operating a type 2 rental without its required permit, is punishable by a fine up to $1,000, up to 180 days in jail, or both, with a $500 minimum fine.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does every short-term rental in Springfield need a special permit?
Can neighbors block a Springfield short-term rental type 2 permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Springfield
How Springfield compares: Most Airbnb-Friendly Cities in America·Compare Springfield to another location·View the Missouri short-term rentals overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.