Biloxi Short-Term Rental Regulations
| Permit | ✓ Required — Short-Term Rental Certificate of Occupancy ($250) |
| Primary Residence | Not required |
| Annual Day Limit | No limit |
| Tax Rate | 12% |
| Max Penalty | $500 per violation per day |
| Insurance | Not required |
New to short-term rentals? Jump to the compliance checklist →
Permit & Licensing
Short-Term Rental Certificate of Occupancy
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Initial cost | $250 |
| Renewal | $250 / 1 year |
This permit type does not require primary residence.
Application Process
Applicants apply through the City of Biloxi Community Development/Planning Division and must obtain a Certificate of Occupancy, Certificate of Zoning Compliance, Privilege Tax License, and Occupant Limit Card. The Certificate of Occupancy application requires site details including total square footage, bedroom count, and number of parking spaces, plus a local emergency contact able to respond within 30 minutes. Permits are non-transferable upon sale of the property; a new owner must file new applications for all certificates, permits, and licenses.
Tax Obligations
| Tax | Rate | Authority |
|---|---|---|
| Mississippi State Sales Tax | 7% | State of Mississippi |
| Mississippi Gulf Coast Regional CVB Tax (Harrison County) | 3% | City of Biloxi |
| Mississippi Coast Coliseum and Convention Center Tax (Harrison County) | 2% | City of Biloxi |
Combined rate: 12% of gross rental income.
Rental Limits
Biloxi does not impose an annual cap on the number of nights you can rent.
Zoning & Restrictions
Short-term rentals are a permitted use by right in Community Business (CB), Regional Business (RB), Downtown (DT), and Waterfront (WF) districts. They may be authorized as a Conditional Use (Planning Commission review/approval) in Agricultural (A), Limited Business (LB), Neighborhood Business (NB), Medium-Density Multi-Family Residential (RM-20), and High-Density Multi-Family Residential (RM-30) districts, with the cumulative total of conditional-use STRs in the RM-20/RM-30 zones capped at 75. STRs may also be authorized within Planned Development districts (PD-GE, PD-HB, PD-C, PD-I) via an approved Planned Development Master Plan from City Council. STRs are prohibited outright in single-family residential zones (RS-5, RS-7.5, RS-10, RE, RER, AR) and in the city's harbors and marinas.
Insurance & Safety
Insurance
Biloxi 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.
Safety & Operating Requirements
- Annual Fire Inspection by the Biloxi Fire Department
- Guest register (names, home addresses, driver's license numbers, dates of stay, unit number) maintained and available for city inspection
- Local contact person able to provide a thirty-minute appearance response at the STR site
- STRs in one- and two-family elevated structures must provide two separate and remote emergency egress stairways
Penalties for Non-Compliance
- $500 per violation per day for operating a short-term rental without a required business license
Platform Requirements
Applicants must disclose to the city which booking platforms/agencies (e.g., Airbnb, VRBO, HomeAway) their short-term rental is affiliated with, and must present documentation from the Mississippi Department of Revenue or the platform showing applicable taxes have been collected and/or paid before the city license can be renewed.
Compliance Checklist
Follow these steps to legally operate a short-term rental in Biloxi:
- Meet safety requirements. Annual Fire Inspection by the Biloxi Fire Department. Guest register (names, home addresses, driver's license numbers, dates of stay, unit number) maintained and available for city inspection. Local contact person able to provide a thirty-minute appearance response at the STR site. STRs in one- and two-family elevated structures must provide two separate and remote emergency egress stairways.
- Apply for Short-Term Rental Certificate of Occupancy. Submit application + $250 fee.
- Register for tax accounts. Set up lodging tax accounts with Mississippi Department of Revenue.
- Collect and remit taxes. 12% on all bookings.
- Renew annually. $250 renewal fee.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Do you need a permit to run an Airbnb in Biloxi?
- Yes. Operating a short-term rental — including an Airbnb or Vrbo — in Biloxi requires a Short-Term Rental Certificate of Occupancy.
- How much does a short-term rental permit cost in Biloxi?
- A Short-Term Rental Certificate of Occupancy in Biloxi costs $250 per year.
- Does Biloxi require a short-term rental to be your primary residence?
- No. Biloxi 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 Biloxi?
- Biloxi 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 Biloxi?
- Short-term rental stays in Biloxi are subject to a combined 12% in lodging taxes. This combines 7% Mississippi State Sales Tax + 3% Mississippi Gulf Coast Regional CVB Tax (Harrison County) + 2% Mississippi Coast Coliseum and Convention Center Tax (Harrison County). The host is responsible for collecting and remitting them.
- What happens if you run a short-term rental without a permit in Biloxi?
- Operating without a permit can cost up to $500 per violation per day.
Tools for Short-Term Rental Hosts
AdServices that help hosts handle the legal, management, pricing, and cleaning side of a short-term rental.