Not legal or tax advice. This is a free summary we put together from public government sources. Rules change, so check the official source (linked on every line) or call the office before you rely on it. Anything marked Unconfirmed is something we couldn’t verify on an official page. Last full review: October 19, 2026.
- Which rules apply to you
- City of Branson
- Taney County
- Hollister
- Stone County
- Kimberling City
- Branson West
- Missouri sales tax
- HOAs & condos
- Checklist
- Sources
Which rules apply to you
- Inside Branson city limits? The City of Branson notes that some addresses with “Branson” in them aren’t inside city limits, and it has a map to check yours. [S1]
- Taney County or Stone County? Branson, Hollister and Forsyth are in Taney County. Branson West, Kimberling City and Reeds Spring are in Stone County, and the lake straddles both. Your tax bill or the county assessor shows your parcel’s county.
- Inside a city, the city’s rules apply. In Stone County, the county health department’s vacation-rental permit also covers city properties (see Stone County). Outside city limits, county zoning applies.
City of Branson
| What | The rule | Source |
|---|---|---|
| What counts | Any dwelling unit rented for 1 to 30 nights in a row. Rentals inside your own primary residence don’t count (primary residence = where you live at least 270 days a year). | S1, S3 |
| You need | Three things: an STR business license, an STR permit, and a tourism tax bond. All three go through the city’s Citizenserve portal. | S1 |
| Business license | $100 a year, one per address. License year runs May 1 to April 30. Renew by April 30 or pay a late penalty. | S1 |
| To apply | Government ID for the responsible person, Secretary of State registration if you use an LLC or a DBA name, and a copy of your Missouri Retail Sales Tax license. The city says every STR must have and keep one. | S1 |
| STR permit & fire inspection | $150, paid before you schedule a fire safety inspection. The Fire Department issues the permit once you pass. It’s good for 3 years and transfers if the property changes managers. | S1, S3 |
| Safety plan to post | Post an emergency plan at the main entrance and in every guest bedroom. It must include “For Emergency Dial 9-1-1,” the 911 address, what to do in a fire, the allowed occupant load, the manager’s contact, a floor plan with exits and fire extinguishers, a severe-weather plan, and a site plan showing guest parking. You also attest that you have working smoke detectors and at least one fire extinguisher. | S1, S3 |
| Zoning | STRs are not allowed in Low Density Residential districts. They’re allowed only in zones listed in the city’s table of permitted uses. | S3 |
| Advertising | Your STR license number must appear on every ad and booking listing. | S3 |
| Property manager | Each license names a property manager (the owner can name themselves) who is responsible for compliance. Tell the city about changes within 14 days. A manager who isn’t the owner needs a signed, notarized authorization from the owner. | S3 |
| HOA attestation | You sign a statement that no HOA agreement, condo bylaw or deed restriction bars short-term rental. | S3 |
| Tourism tax | 4% on lodging, on top of sales tax. Due by the 20th of each month through Citizenserve. Late payments get a 10% penalty plus 1% a month interest. The city says no third-party platform (Airbnb, VRBO, etc.) is authorized to remit Branson tourism tax for you. | S2 |
| Tourism tax bond | One-time deposit paid when you apply. It’s refunded after 3 straight years of on-time tourism tax payments. Unconfirmed: the amount. Secondary sources say $100, but the city’s pages don’t state it (see city code §82-99). | S2, S3 |
| Occupancy & parking limits | No numeric guest cap or parking minimum appears in the STR ordinance itself. You post your allowed occupant load (set by fire and building code) and a parking site plan. Unconfirmed: whether zoning adds limits for your district. | S3 |
Taney County (outside city limits)
| What | The rule | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Zoning permit | Nightly rentals (under 30 days) in unincorporated Taney County need a Conditional Use Permit from Taney County Planning & Zoning. | S5 |
| Fee | Unconfirmed: The Conditional Use Permit fee isn’t posted online. Call Taney County Planning & Zoning. | S5 |
| Fire district | Where Central Taney County Fire Protection District covers your property, nightly rentals need a fire district permit too, priced like new construction: $50 minimum, then $4 per $1,000 of project materials cost up to $250k, with extra fees for sprinkler and alarm systems. The district counts allowed occupants as square footage ÷ 200 (2,000 sq ft = 10 guests). Other fire districts may differ. | S6 |
City of Hollister
| What | The rule | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Zoning | Hollister’s zoning code has a nightly-rentals appendix, and nightly rentals are handled as a conditional use. Unconfirmed: We haven’t read the appendix in full, so check with the city which zones allow them. | S7 |
| Conditional use fee | $50 application. The application is posted publicly. | S7 |
| Lodging license | Hollister’s lodging-establishment license and health permit apply to places with 5 or more guest rooms. Unconfirmed: whether a smaller STR needs a separate city business license. | S8 |
Stone County
| What | The rule | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Health dept. permit | Before renting for 28 nights or less, get a Vacation Home Rental Permit from the Stone County Health Department: $150 to apply, $150 a year to renew. Permits expire June 30. | S9, S10 |
| Septic inspection | The application needs a septic (onsite wastewater) inspection report from a licensed inspector. If the system fails, the first repair-permit fee is waived. | S9 |
| Parking | Include a diagram or photo showing the on-site parking spaces and the maximum number of overnight vehicles. | S9 |
| Local contact & tax | List a local contact person and show proof of a county transient occupancy tax remittance form. The application form also asks for a Stone County Merchant’s License. Unconfirmed: The county lodging tax rate. | S9, S16 |
| County zoning | Outside city limits, Stone County Planning & Zoning hears STRs as Conditional Use Permits, and some owners rezone (for example R-1 to RR-1) to qualify. The board is also voting on amendments to its Short-Term Rental Regulations (Oct 6, 2026 agenda), so expect changes. Planning & Zoning: 417-357-8402. | S11 |
Kimberling City
| What | The rule | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Zoning | No rentals under 30 days in R-1, R-1B, R-2 or R-3 zones. R-1 properties rented that way consistently since before Jan 1, 2017 may continue, but that ends when the property is sold. | S12 |
| City STR permit | Unconfirmed: A third-party tracker says Ordinance 24-085 (June 2024) requires an annual city STR permit. We couldn’t find the ordinance or a fee on an official page, so ask the City Clerk. | S17 |
| County permit | Stone County’s health department permit (above) also applies. | S9 |
Branson West
| What | The rule | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Status | On May 18, 2026, the Planning & Zoning Commission took up a proposed ordinance “to permit and regulate” rentals under 30 days. Unconfirmed: whether it was adopted, and any fee. Call the Building Department at (417) 272-3313. | S13, S14 |
| County permit | Stone County’s health department permit (above) applies. | S9 |
Missouri sales tax
Branson requires every STR to hold a Missouri Retail Sales Tax license [S1]. Airbnb says it collects and remits Missouri state and local sales tax on qualifying stays (unconfirmed) [S15]. If you also book direct or on other sites, you’ll likely have to file and remit yourself. Either way, Branson’s 4% tourism tax is on you [S2]. A local tax preparer can sort out the details.
HOAs, condos & resorts
Many Branson condos and lake subdivisions have their own rules: minimum stays, check-in desks, parking passes, sometimes outright bans. Branson makes you sign a statement that no HOA rule, bylaw or deed restriction blocks short-term rental [S3]. Read your covenants before you buy or list.
Quick checklist (City of Branson)
- Check that the address is inside city limits and in a zone that allows STRs.
- Get a Missouri Retail Sales Tax license. Register an LLC or DBA if you use one.
- Apply on Citizenserve: STR business license ($100/yr) plus tourism tax bond.
- Pay the $150 STR permit, then schedule and pass the fire inspection.
- Post the emergency plan at the entrance and in each bedroom. Smoke detectors and a fire extinguisher.
- Put your license number on every listing.
- File and pay the 4% tourism tax by the 20th every month, even if Airbnb collects sales tax.
- Renew by April 30 each year.
The Branson vendor list has inspectors, cleaners, septic and hot tub people if you need them.
Common questions
Do I need a license to Airbnb my place in Branson? Yes, inside city limits: an STR business license ($100/yr), an STR permit ($150, after a fire inspection) and a tourism tax bond [S1].
Does Airbnb pay the Branson tourism tax for me? No. The city says no platform is authorized to remit it, so you file it yourself by the 20th [S2].
Can I do a short-term rental in a Branson neighborhood? Not in Low Density Residential zones [S3]. Check your zoning on the city map.
What about Kimberling City or the lake? Kimberling City bans rentals under 30 days in its R-1 through R-3 zones [S12]. Anywhere in Stone County you need the $150 county health department permit and a septic inspection [S9].
Sources
We read each source below ourselves on October 19, 2026, except the ones marked “search index only,” where we saw the text in a search result but couldn’t open the page.
- S1. City of Branson, Short-Term Rentals.
- S2. City of Branson, Tourism Tax & Bond Requirements.
- S3. City of Branson, Ordinance No. 2024-0065 (Short-Term Rentals; effective May 1, 2025). Also see Branson Code Ch. 22.
- S5. Taney County, Planning & Zoning: Permits.
- S6. Central Taney County Fire Protection District, Nightly Rental Guidance (PDF).
- S7. City of Hollister Code, Art. V Supplementary Regulations (conditional use, $50 fee). Nightly-rental appendix listed in the zoning code index (search index only).
- S8. City of Hollister Code, Ch. 625 Lodging Establishment. Search index only.
- S9. Stone County Health Department, Vacation Home Rental.
- S10. Stone County Health Department, Vacation Rental Ordinance (2012 PDF). Search index only.
- S11. Stone County, Planning & Zoning Agenda, Oct 6, 2026 (PDF).
- S12. Kimberling City Code, §400.516 Short-Term Rentals.
- S13. City of Branson West, P&Z Agenda, May 18, 2026 (PDF).
- S14. City of Branson West, Building Department. Search index only.
- S15. Airbnb Help Center, Occupancy tax collection and remittance. Search index only.
- S16. Stone County Health Department, Vacation Home Rental Permit Application (PDF). Search index only.
- S17. Comparent (third party, not official), Kimberling City STR regulations. Search index only.
See something out of date? Give us a holler and we’ll fix it.