Short Term Rental Host
A Short-Term Rental Host license is required for any person who is the owner or tenant of a dwelling unit, or portion thereof who provides a dwelling unit for short-term rental use. Short term means a period of less than 30 days.
It is unlawful for any person to engage in a short-term rental advertisement or operate as a short-term rental host within the city without a valid Short-Term Rental Host license.
Application requirements
To obtain a Short-Term Rental Host License, you must submit the following:
- Short-Term Rental License Requirements
- Short-Term Rental Host Application
- If non-owner occupied - A current Fire Certificate of Occupancy must be on file, or a completed Provisional Fire Certificate of Occupancy Application and fee must be submitted alongside the short-term rental host application.
- Pay License Fee
- Proof of Insurance: Either an ACORD Certificate of Insurance evidencing coverage of the short-term rental use in the aggregate of not less than $300,000 listing the licensing name and short-term rental address as the insured, and the "City of Saint Paul" as the certificate holder (Example of ACORD Certificate) OR indication on license application that you are only using Airbnb, VRBO and/or HomeAway. Airbnb, VRBO, and HomeAway are licensed short-term rental platforms in the City of Saint Paul. If using any other short-term rental platform, an ACORD certificate will need to be submitted to our office.
Any existing building permits must be closed out prior to the issuance of the short-term rental license.
To renew a Short-Term Rental Host License, you must submit the following:
- Annual Fee
- Signed Affidavit of Compliance
- Workers' Compensation Form
An invoice will be sent to the license holder with the above documents prior to the license expiring.
Inspections
To issue or renew a Short-Term Rental Host license, the Director and the Police Chief must investigate the application.
Certificate of Occupancy
Certificate of Occupancy: a document issued by the City of Saint Paul -DSI Fire Safety Inspection Division indicating the existing structure complies with all state and local safety codes allowing its use as a commercial building or residential occupancy. All residential buildings that are not owner-occupied shall have a Fire Certification of Occupancy. All buildings with three (3) or more units shall have a Fire Certificate of Occupancy. For further information on the Certificate of Occupancy program for residential properties, please visit One and Two Family Residential | Saint Paul Minnesota.
Provisional Fire Certificate of Occupancy: issued by the Department of Safety and Inspection to owners of one- and two-unit rental dwellings to temporarily permit continued occupancy pending inspection of the existing structure. For further information on the Certificate of Occupancy program for residential properties, please visit One and Two Family Residential | Saint Paul Minnesota.
****A Certificate of Occupancy is connected to the property and covers all units within the building. To check if a property has an existing Certificate of Occupancy, please visit Certificate of Occupancy Map | Saint Paul Minnesota. If the responsible party is changing, please fill out the C of O Change of Ownership Fillable Form and submit it to the Department of Safety and Inspections. *****
Fees, License Term, and Renewal
To obtain a Short-Term Rental Host License, you are required to pay the license fee for each unit you are renting. The License will expire one year from the date of issuance and must be renewed annually. See Fee Table for current License fees.
Short-Term Rental Platforms
Short Term Rental Platform license is for a person or entity that provides a means through which an owner or tenant of a dwelling unit offers the dwelling unit for short-term rental use and from which the platform derives revenue. This service includes but is not limited to allowing a short-term rental host to advertise the dwelling unit for short-term rental use through a website provided by the short-term platform and providing a means for potential users to arrange payment for use of the short-term rental.
To obtain a Short-Term Rental Platform License, you must submit the following:
- Class R License Application
- Record Check Affidavit must be completed by the applicant, officer or any other person holding a twenty-five (25) percent or greater beneficial interest in the short-term rental platform.
- Proof of Insurance: An ACORD Certificate of Insurance evidencing coverage for short-term rental uses in the aggregate of not less than $300,000 listing the licensing name as the insured, and the "City of Saint Paul" as the certificate holder (Example of ACORD Certificate).
- License Fee
Inspections
To issue or renew a Short-Term Rental Platform License, the Director and the Police Chief must investigate the application.
Code Requirements
See Saint Paul Legislative Code for more information about Short Term Rental licenses.
See the Short-Term Rental zoning webpage for more zoning information regarding short-term rentals.
Questions? Please contact DSI at 651-266-8989, or email the DSI Message Center.