Saint Paul Short-Term Rental Regulations

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Permit & Licensing

Short-Term Rental Host License (Owner-Occupied)

This permit type does not require primary residence. Zoning restriction: Single-family building, owner-occupied: 1 STR dwelling unit permitted; no Fire Certificate of Occupancy required.

Short-Term Rental Host License (Non-Owner Occupied)

This permit type does not require primary residence. Zoning restriction: Single-family building, non-owner-occupied: 1 STR dwelling unit permitted; Fire Certificate of Occupancy required.

Application Process

Apply online through the City's PAULIE permitting/licensing platform (separate application links for Owner-Occupied, Non-Owner Occupied, and Platform licenses); paper applications available on request by phone (651-266-8989), email, or in person at 375 Jackson Street. The Director and Police Chief must investigate every application before a license is issued or renewed.

Note: Document requirements vary by permit type. See individual permit sections above for eligibility details.

Tax Obligations

Combined rate: 12.875% of gross rental income.

Collection: Platform (accommodations intermediary) auto-remits when it facilitates the sale; property owner self-remits when renting directly to the guest; both remit separately for the portions each facilitates if both are involved

Rental Limits

Saint Paul does not impose an annual cap on the number of nights you can rent. Each individual stay must be less than 30 days.

Zoning & Restrictions

• STR dwelling units allowed citywide since Dec. 2, 2017. Allowance scales with building size and owner-occupancy: single-family/duplex/triplex/fourplex allow 1-4 STR units depending on whether an owner occupies the building; buildings with more than four units may use up to 50% of dwelling units (capped at 4) as STRs.
• Unit counts may exceed these caps with a conditional use permit.

Insurance & Safety

Insurance

Operators must maintain at least $300,000 in liability insurance covering the property's use as a short-term rental.

Safety & Operating Requirements

• Provide local contact information available to respond to guest inquiries during the stay
• Working smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarm(s) in every bedroom and on all habitable floors
• A properly maintained and charged fire extinguisher
• Post emergency contact info, responsible-party contact info, street address, floor plan with fire exits/escape routes, DSI contact info, and maximum occupancy limits in a conspicuous place
• Maintain liability insurance of at least $300,000 or equivalent platform coverage
• Maintain a short-term rental host registry logging nights booked and rent paid
• Provide proof that the short-term rental license number is included on any advertisement

Penalties for Non-Compliance

Not publicly specified

Platform Requirements

• Possess a valid short-term rental platform license issued by the city
• Report electronically to the city on a quarterly basis: total number of STR listings by zip code and total nights rented per zip code
• Inform registered hosts of their responsibility to collect and remit all applicable local, state and federal taxes unless the platform does this on the host's behalf

Market Snapshot

Demand context for Saint Paul 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 Saint Paul:

1. Determine your permit type. Saint Paul has 2 permit types. Identify which applies to your property (Short-Term Rental Host License (Owner-Occupied), Short-Term Rental Host License (Non-Owner Occupied)).
2. Meet safety requirements. Provide local contact information available to respond to guest inquiries during the stay. Working smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarm(s) in every bedroom and on all habitable floors. A properly maintained and charged fire extinguisher. Post emergency contact info, responsible-party contact info, street address, floor plan with fire exits/escape routes, DSI contact info, and maximum occupancy limits in a conspicuous place. Maintain liability insurance of at least $300,000 or equivalent platform coverage. Maintain a short-term rental host registry logging nights booked and rent paid. Provide proof that the short-term rental license number is included on any advertisement.
3. Obtain liability insurance. $300,000 minimum.
4. Apply for your STR permit. Submit application + $45 fee. See permit types above to determine which applies.
5. Register for tax accounts. Set up lodging tax accounts with Minnesota Department of Revenue.
6. Collect and remit taxes. 12.875% on all bookings.
7. Renew annually. $45 renewal fee.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you need a permit to run an Airbnb in Saint Paul?

Yes. Saint Paul requires a short-term rental permit to operate an Airbnb or Vrbo, and there are 2 permit types. See the permit types above to find which applies to your property.

How much does a short-term rental permit cost in Saint Paul?

A short-term rental permit in Saint Paul costs $45.

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

No. Saint Paul allows non-owner-occupied short-term rentals, so investment properties can qualify provided you hold the required permit.

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

Saint Paul does not cap the total number of nights per year. Its short-term-rental rules apply when a stay is less than 30 days.

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

Short-term rental stays in Saint Paul are subject to a combined 12.875% in lodging taxes. This combines 6.875% Minnesota State Sales Tax + 1.5% Saint Paul Local Option Sales Tax (0.5% STAR + 1.0% Streets and Parks) + 0.75% Metro Area Transportation Sales Tax (7-county metro) + 0.25% Metro Area Housing Sales Tax (7-county metro) + 0.5% Ramsey County Transit Sales Tax + 3% Saint Paul Lodging Tax (applies to lodging facilities of 50 or fewer rooms; MN DOR confirms local lodging taxes apply to residential short-term rentals). Hosts are legally responsible; many booking platforms collect and remit them automatically on the host's behalf.

What are the penalties for short-term rental violations in Saint Paul?

Not publicly specified.