Springfield Short-Term Rental Regulations

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Permit & Licensing

Springfield does not require a specific STR permit at this time. Check with local government for any zoning or business license requirements.

Tax Obligations

Combined rate: 14% of gross rental income.

Collection: Operators and/or Online Travel Companies (OTCs)/hosting platforms must collect the 8% Hotel and Motel Room Tax from the renter at the time of payment and remit it to the city's Office of Budget and Management. At the state level, hosting platforms meeting the 're-renter' definition must register with the Illinois Department of Revenue and collect/remit the state Hotel Operators' Occupation Tax via Form RHM-1 (effective July 1, 2025).

Filing: Monthly by default (return due on or before the last day of the following calendar month); quarterly if average monthly tax liability does not exceed $60

Rental Limits

Springfield does not impose an annual cap on the number of nights you can rent.

Zoning & Restrictions

• No zoning classification, permit, or license process applies to typical short-term rentals (whole-home stays without an owner present, booked via platforms such as Airbnb/Vrbo).
• The zoning code's only lodging-type land use is 'Tourist home, bed and breakfast inn' — an owner-occupied single-family home with no more than three bedrooms rented to transient guests where breakfast is served — which requires conditional-use approval from the Planning and Zoning Commission in the R-3, R-5(a), R-5(b), R-5(c), and OFF districts.

Insurance & Safety

Insurance

Springfield does not require short-term rental operators to carry specific insurance. Standard homeowner policies often exclude short-term rental activity, so many hosts obtain dedicated short-term rental or landlord liability coverage.

Platform Requirements

Illinois requires short-term rental hosting platforms (e.g., Airbnb, Vrbo) that meet the definition of 're-renter of hotel rooms' to register with the Illinois Department of Revenue and collect/remit the state Hotel Operators' Occupation Tax on short-term rental bookings statewide, effective July 1, 2025 (35 ILCS 145/2, as amended by Public Act 104-0006).

Market Snapshot

Demand context for Springfield from official government and tourism statistics — the latest published annual figures, not a projection of rental income.

Figures are the latest annual statistics published by the linked official sources (retrieved 2026-07-13). Visitor counts cover the geography stated by each source, which can be wider than the city itself. Regulations above — not market conditions — determine whether and how you may operate.

Compliance Checklist

Follow these steps to legally operate a short-term rental in Springfield:

1. Register for tax accounts. Set up lodging tax accounts with City of Springfield Office of Budget and Management; Illinois Department of Revenue.
2. Collect and remit taxes. 14% on all bookings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you need a permit to run an Airbnb in Springfield?

Springfield does not require a dedicated short-term rental permit, but you must register for and remit applicable lodging taxes. Confirm local zoning rules still allow short-term rentals at your property before listing.

Does Springfield require a short-term rental to be your primary residence?

No. Springfield does not impose a primary-residence requirement, so non-owner-occupied rentals are allowed.

How many days a year can you short-term rent in Springfield?

Springfield does not cap the number of nights per year you can short-term rent, though permitting, zoning, and occupancy rules still apply.

What taxes do you pay on a short-term rental in Springfield?

Short-term rental stays in Springfield are subject to a combined 14% in lodging taxes. This combines 8% Springfield Hotel and Motel Room Tax + 6% Illinois Hotel Operators' Occupation Tax. Hosts are legally responsible; many booking platforms collect and remit them automatically on the host's behalf.