Bay St. Louis City Council Passes Short-Term Rental Ordinance

Bay St. Louis, MS – August 21, 2024 – The Bay St. Louis City Council adopted a short-term rental ordinance at its August 20, 2024, meeting.

The ordinance requires short-term rentals to be registered with the City of Bay St. Louis. This registration process ensures that properties meet city standards and are subject to periodic inspections. The new measure aims to protect guests and neighbors while providing a fair regulatory framework for rental owners and operators.

The ordinance focuses on transparency by ensuring the locations of short-term rentals are known while also safeguarding renters and providing mechanisms to address any potential nuisances for neighbors. This balance protects our community and guests without infringing on property owners’ rights.

Mayor Mike Favre remarked, “Short-term rentals have been instrumental in fueling our local economy, helping Bay St. Louis evolve into the award-winning, thriving community it is today. Bay St. Louis recognizes the vital role these rentals play in filling the gap left by limited hotel and motel accommodations. This ordinance is designed to ensure that property owners, visitors, and neighbors are protected. It’s not about restricting short-term rentals but about creating a regulatory framework that upholds our standards and maintains Bay St. Louis as a premier coastal destination for both residents and visitors.”

The City of Bay St. Louis will begin accepting applications for short-term rental registration on Tuesday, October 1. The application will be available on the Bay St. Louis website starting mid-September.