Kimberling City Short-Term Rental Regulations

New to short-term rentals? Jump to the compliance checklist →

Permit & Licensing

No dedicated short-term-rental permit exists. Any rental business (including a short-term rental operating where zoning allows it) must hold the City's general annual Business License, and a Missouri Retail Sales License is required for 'sales/rental businesses.'

This permit type does not require primary residence. Zoning restriction: including a short-term rental operating where zoning allows it.

Application Process

Complete the City business license application (same form for new applications and renewals). Rental/sales businesses must also submit a Missouri Retail Sales License bearing the Kimberling City address, plus a 'No Tax Due' statement each year at renewal.

Tax Obligations

Combined rate: 9.975% of gross rental income.

Collection: For bookings made through a marketplace facilitator such as Airbnb, the platform collects and remits Missouri state and local sales tax on the host's behalf for reservations of 29 nights or shorter. For direct bookings or platforms that do not collect on the host's behalf, the host must register for a Missouri Retailer's Sales Tax License and remit the tax directly.

Rental Limits

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

Zoning & Restrictions

Short-term rentals (nightly, weekly, vacation, or lake rentals, or any stay under 30 days) are prohibited in the 'R-1' Single-Family, 'R-1B' Urban Neighborhood, 'R-2' Two-Family, and 'R-3' Multi-Family residential zoning districts (§400.510). A narrow grandfather clause applies only to 'R-1' (not R-1B/R-2/R-3) properties that were consistently rented as nightly/weekly/vacation/lake rentals before January 1, 2017 — those may continue, but the exemption terminates permanently the moment the property is sold to a new owner. Short-term rentals are not restricted by this section in the 'C-1', 'C-2', 'C-3' (Lakefront Overlay), 'A-1', 'I-1', 'O', or 'PDD' districts.

Insurance & Safety

Insurance

Kimberling City 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.

Compliance Checklist

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

1. Apply for No dedicated short-term-rental permit exists. Any rental business (including a short-term rental operating where zoning allows it) must hold the City's general annual Business License, and a Missouri Retail Sales License is required for 'sales/rental businesses.'. Submit application + $25/year (general City Business License; not an STR-specific fee) fee.
2. Register for tax accounts. Set up lodging tax accounts with Missouri Department of Revenue.
3. Collect and remit taxes. 9.975% on all bookings.
4. Renew annually. $25/year, renewed annually (active June 30 to July 1 of the following year) renewal fee.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you need a permit to run an Airbnb in Kimberling City?

Yes. Operating a short-term rental — including an Airbnb or Vrbo — in Kimberling City requires a short-term rental permit.

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

No. Kimberling City 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 Kimberling City?

Kimberling City 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 Kimberling City?

Short-term rental stays in Kimberling City are subject to a 9.975% combined (Kimberling City, per MO DOR rate table); stays contracted for 30+ consecutive days are exempt Missouri State & Local Sales Tax (lodging). The host is responsible for collecting and remitting it.