The Commercial Lodging Program works with local health agencies to ensure that Missouri’s hotels, motels, and resorts meet high standards for public health and fire safety. This page provides access to licensing requirements, annual inspection details, and a searchable list of licensed establishments to help ensure a safe experience for all travelers. Whether you need to pay licensing fees or review swimming pool regulations, these resources serve as a central guide for lodging operators and the public.
Whether for business or pleasure, thousands of people travel throughout Missouri each year. Many of these trips require overnight or extended stays away from the comforts of home. Through cooperative efforts with local public health agencies and the lodging industry, the Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) strives to provide a level of excellence in all licensed lodging establishments operating throughout Missouri.
Over 1400 commercial lodging establishments are regulated throughout the state. Each establishment is inspected and is required to obtain a state-issued lodging license annually. All lodging facilities are inspected with a focus on public health and safety. The lodging facilities are regulated under a rule that addresses: drinking water supplies, sewage or wastewater treatment, life safety, fire safety, electrical wiring, fuel-burning appliances, plumbing, food safety, and swimming pools and spas. Anyone operating a facility that meets the following conditions or standards is considered a lodging establishment and will need a state license:
- a building or group of building where 5 or more guest rooms are provided
- an establishment which can be construed to be a motel, hotel, resort or cabin, or similar place held out to the public for hire.