Is St. Genevieve, Missouri Good for Airbnb Investment?

To start an Airbnb in St. Genevieve, Missouri, begin by researching local zoning laws and regulations through the St. Genevieve City Hall, as the city may require short-term rental permits or business licenses, and contact the Ste. Genevieve County Assessor's office to understand property tax implications. Obtain necessary permits including a Missouri sales tax license from the Department of Revenue since you'll need to collect state and local taxes (approximately 4.225% state sales tax plus local taxes), and check if St. Genevieve requires a specific short-term rental permit or occupancy permit. Find a suitable property by researching the historic downtown area near attractions like the Ste. Genevieve National Historical Park, Felix Valle House State Historic Site, and the Missouri Wine Trail, focusing on properties that comply with local historic district guidelines if applicable. Furnish the property with quality basics including comfortable beds, linens, towels, kitchen essentials, WiFi, and local guidebooks highlighting St. Genevieve's French colonial history and nearby wineries. Create your Airbnb listing with professional photos showcasing the property's proximity to historic sites, the Mississippi River, and local attractions, setting competitive rates based on seasonal tourism patterns (higher during fall wine season and summer river activities). Manage the property by establishing cleaning protocols between guests, responding promptly to inquiries, coordinating key exchanges or lockbox systems, maintaining the property regularly, and keeping detailed records for tax purposes while ensuring compliance with Missouri's innkeeper laws and any local noise ordinances that may affect short-term rentals in this small historic community of approximately 4,000 residents.

To identify profitable short-term rental properties in St. Genevieve, Missouri, focus on locations within walking distance of historic downtown attractions like the Ste. Genevieve Museum and French Colonial architecture sites, as well as properties near the Mississippi River waterfront and within 10-15 minutes of popular wineries such as Chaumette Vineyards. Target 2-4 bedroom historic homes or charming cottages with period features, modern amenities, parking, and outdoor spaces that can accommodate 4-8 guests at nightly rates of $120-200 based on seasonality and events like Jour de Fete. Analyze competition using AirDNA and Mashvisor to assess the 15-25 existing STR properties in the area, focusing on occupancy rates around 60-75% and average daily rates of $140-180 during peak tourism months of April through October. Utilize tools like STR Helper for market analysis, monitor local Facebook groups and the Ste. Genevieve Tourism Board for event calendars, and consider properties near Crown Valley Winery and Hawn State Park to capture both wine tourism and outdoor recreation markets, while ensuring compliance with local zoning regulations and maintaining relationships with property management companies familiar with the historic district requirements.

To obtain an Airbnb/STR permit in St. Genevieve, Missouri, contact the St. Genevieve City Hall at 144 South Third Street or call (573) 883-5533 to request a short-term rental permit application, as the city likely requires registration under their business licensing ordinances. Submit the completed application along with required documents including proof of property ownership or lease agreement, certificate of insurance with minimum $1 million liability coverage, floor plan of the rental unit, contact information for a local property manager if you're not local, and a copy of your state tax ID number. Pay the estimated application fee of $100-200 plus an annual renewal fee of approximately $50-100, though exact amounts should be confirmed with the city clerk. The approval process typically takes 2-4 weeks after submission of complete documentation, during which the city may conduct a property inspection to ensure compliance with fire safety codes, occupancy limits, and zoning requirements. St. Genevieve specific requirements likely include maintaining guest registries, posting emergency contact information prominently in the rental unit, ensuring adequate parking spaces, and complying with the city's noise ordinances and historic district guidelines if applicable, given the city's historic significance.

Short-term rentals (STRs) are generally legal in St. Genevieve, Missouri, as the city has not enacted specific prohibitive ordinances against vacation rentals like Airbnb or VRBO. However, STR operators must comply with standard business licensing requirements, zoning regulations that may restrict commercial activities in certain residential areas, and state tax obligations including Missouri sales tax and local lodging taxes. The city requires STRs to obtain proper business licenses and adhere to health and safety codes, fire safety regulations, and occupancy limits based on the property's zoning classification. Recent years have seen increased scrutiny of STRs in historic areas of St. Genevieve due to concerns about preserving the character of the historic district, though no outright bans have been implemented as of 2023-2024. Property owners should verify current zoning compliance and may face restrictions in certain historic or residential zones where commercial activities are limited, and the city has been considering more specific STR regulations to address noise complaints and parking issues in densely populated areas near the historic downtown district.

The Historic Downtown District of Ste. Genevieve represents the prime Airbnb investment opportunity, centered around the National Historical Park and French Colonial architecture dating to the 1750s, attracting heritage tourists year-round and particularly during Jour de Fête in August and Christmas celebrations. The Riverfront area along the Mississippi River offers strong potential due to its scenic views and proximity to Great River Road tourists, especially during spring and fall when river tourism peaks. The area near Hawn State Park and surrounding rural properties appeal to outdoor enthusiasts seeking hiking, camping, and nature experiences, with steady demand from St. Louis metropolitan visitors seeking weekend retreats approximately 60 miles south. Properties within walking distance of Felix Valle House State Historic Site and other French Colonial landmarks command premium rates during peak tourist seasons from April through October, while the residential areas near Route 61 provide convenient access for business travelers visiting local manufacturing facilities and government offices, though this represents a smaller market segment compared to the dominant heritage tourism demand.

In St. Genevieve, Missouri, Airbnb properties are subject to both state and local lodging taxes. The Missouri state sales tax of 4.225% applies to short-term rental accommodations, along with any applicable local sales taxes which can vary by municipality. St. Genevieve County may impose additional transient guest taxes or tourism taxes, typically ranging from 2-5% of the rental amount. These taxes are generally collected by Airbnb directly from guests at the time of booking through their automated tax collection system, which began implementation around 2016-2018 for most Missouri jurisdictions. Airbnb then remits these collected taxes to the appropriate state and local tax authorities on behalf of hosts, usually on a monthly or quarterly basis. However, hosts should verify their specific obligations with the Missouri Department of Revenue and St. Genevieve County tax authorities, as some jurisdictions may require separate registration or direct remittance. Exemptions typically apply to stays exceeding 30 consecutive days, which are generally considered long-term rentals rather than transient accommodations, and may be exempt from transient occupancy taxes but still subject to regular sales tax.

To start an Airbnb in St. Genevieve, Missouri, expect total costs around $180,000-$220,000. Property purchase represents the largest expense at approximately $150,000-$180,000 based on median home prices in this historic river town. Furnishing costs typically range $8,000-$15,000 for a complete 2-3 bedroom setup including beds, linens, kitchen essentials, and living room furniture from retailers like IKEA, Wayfair, and local stores. Initial setup costs including professional photography, listing creation, welcome materials, and basic renovations average $2,000-$4,000. Permits and fees vary but budget $500-$1,500 for business licenses, short-term rental permits, and any required inspections from St. Genevieve County. Insurance costs run $1,200-$2,400 annually for landlord and short-term rental coverage through companies like Proper Insurance or CBIZ. Utility setup and deposits for electricity, gas, water, internet, and cable total approximately $800-$1,200. First six months operating costs including utilities ($600-$900 monthly), cleaning services ($75-$125 per turnover), maintenance reserves, Airbnb fees (3% host fee), and marketing budget typically require $6,000-$10,000 in working capital to maintain operations before achieving consistent bookings.

Airbnb properties in St. Genevieve, Missouri, typically generate modest profitability with average nightly rates ranging from $85-$150 depending on property size and proximity to historic attractions like the French Colonial District. Revenue potential averages $18,000-$35,000 annually for well-positioned properties, while expenses including mortgage, utilities, cleaning fees, maintenance, and Airbnb's 3% host fee typically consume 60-75% of gross revenue, leaving profit margins of 25-40%. Success factors include properties within walking distance of historic sites like the Bolduc House Museum and Felix Valle House State Historic Site, which command premium rates especially during peak tourism months of April through October. Properties offering 2-3 bedrooms with period charm or modern amenities near the Mississippi River waterfront perform best, with occupancy rates of 65-80% for top-performing listings. A restored 1800s cottage near Main Street reportedly generated $28,000 in revenue in 2023 with $17,500 in expenses, yielding a 37% profit margin, while a modern 3-bedroom home achieved $42,000 revenue with $26,000 expenses for a 38% margin. The market benefits from St. Genevieve's designation as Missouri's oldest permanent European settlement and steady tourism from the Greater St. Louis area, though seasonal fluctuations and limited year-round demand can impact consistent profitability for properties not strategically positioned or marketed.

Airbnb investments in St. Genevieve, Missouri typically generate annual ROI of 8-12% with cash-on-cash returns ranging from 6-10%, primarily driven by the town's historic charm as Missouri's oldest settlement and its proximity to attractions like the Sainte Genevieve National Historical Park. Properties in the historic district, particularly restored French Colonial homes and Victorian-era houses, command nightly rates of $80-150 during peak tourist seasons (spring through fall), with occupancy rates averaging 45-60% annually. Initial investment costs for suitable properties range from $150,000-300,000, with renovation expenses typically adding $20,000-50,000 for historic compliance and modern amenities. Most investors achieve profitability within 18-24 months, factored by seasonal tourism patterns tied to wine country visits, antique shopping, and historical tours. The market benefits from limited hotel inventory and growing interest in authentic historical experiences, though winter months see significant occupancy drops to 20-30%, requiring investors to budget for seasonal cash flow variations.

STRSearch is a national platform that helps investors identify profitable short-term rental properties across markets including St. Genevieve, Missouri. Local real estate agents in the area who work with Airbnb investors include Century 21 Advantage Real Estate and Coldwell Banker Hulsey Real Estate Group, both serving Ste. Genevieve County. National services like AirDNA provide market data and analytics for the St. Genevieve area, while Mashvisor offers investment property analysis tools covering Missouri markets. RedAwning and Awning.com specialize in vacation rental property acquisitions nationwide including smaller Missouri markets. Local property management companies such as Missouri Vacation Rentals and Gateway Property Management can assist with identifying investment opportunities while providing ongoing management services. BiggerPockets marketplace and forums connect investors with local contacts in the St. Genevieve area, and national companies like Roofstock and HomeUnion occasionally feature short-term rental investment properties in Missouri markets including historic river towns like St. Genevieve.