Jackson County will implement short-term rental ordinance

The Jackson County Legislature passed Ordinance 5987 on June 18th directing how short-term rental (STR) properties should be assessed for property tax purposes. The ordinance reclassifies short-term rentals previously classified as commercial property as residential for assessment purposes. 
 
In a statement, County Executive Frank White Jr. said, "It will take time to issue revised notices to affected property owners. We ask for their patience as this process unfolds and will provide updated records online as they become available."
 
“While we are pausing implementation for 2025, it is important to recognize that the challenge we face stems from a much larger failure at the state level. The Missouri General Assembly has not modernized our tax laws to reflect the realities of today’s housing market. As a result, current law draws no distinction between a homeowner who rents their residence for a few days a year and an out-of-state corporation that purchases hundreds, or even thousands, of homes solely to operate them as short-term rentals. 
 
“This practice has had a real and growing impact on our communities. It has contributed to rising property values and assessments, reduced the supply of long-term housing and created uncertainty for families trying to remain in the neighborhoods they love. In many cases, commercial STR operators are benefiting from residential tax rates while generating significant private profit, undermining the intent of our tax system and placing additional strain on everyone else."
 
White said he is urging the County Legislature to revisit this issue before the 2026 tax year and called on the Missouri General Assembly to act immediately to fix this gap in state law by clearly distinguishing between residents who live in and occasionally rent their homes, and corporations using residential properties to run commercial operations at scale. 
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