Per Chapter 27, Article IV, Sections 27-276 to 27-281 in the St. Joseph Code of Ordinances, “every person engaged in the business of renting, leasing or letting living quarters, sleeping accommodations, rooms or a part thereof, in connection with any hotel, motel or tourist court, shall pay to the city a license tax equal to three percent of the gross rental receipts derived from or paid by transient guests for sleeping accommodations. The minimum license tax under this section shall be $5.00 per quarter-annual license. “ The quarterly report can be downloaded clicking the form Hotel Motel Tax Form.

This distribution to the City shall be due and payable on or before January 31, April 30, July 31 and October 31, respectively of each year, based on the gross daily rental receipts collected during the preceding period of three months ending respectively on March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31.

These same businesses are also responsible for obtaining an annual business licenses and a fire inspection permit. If selling food, liquor, cigarettes, or have an alarm system, additional permits may be required. Please contact our office at (816) 271-4751 for further information or click the Customer Assistance main menu to view the links to each.

If there are any changes to the operations of the business, you must contact the Customer Assistance Center. This includes change of site address, change of corporate status/ownership, change of managing officer, contact person, etc.

You may contact the Customer Assistance Center at (816) 271-4751, fax at (816) 271-4676, or e-mail at custserv@ci.st-joseph.mo.us. You may also visit our office at City Hall, 1100 Frederick, Room 106, St. Joseph, MO 64501.