City Watch
Short-term rental rules in Oxford, MS
How Oxford regulates short-term rentals: the rules that apply, their sources, and pending changes.
Short-term rentals here are subject to registration, a lodging tax, or a small number of operating rules.
- City of Oxford levies its OWN 2% municipal tourism/economic-development tax on room rentals of motels or hotels, defined broadly to reach whole-home short-term rentals (no 6-room floor) — a governing-jurisdiction lodging tax touching STR stays
- No STR use classification, permit, cap, primary-residence rule, or STR separation in the current codified Land Development Code
- Reported 8/2024 primary-residence-outside-Mile-Square ordinance + 2023 1,500-ft STR separation are NOT present in the in-force Oxford, Mississippi code (primary-source refutation of a Restrictive hypothesis)
Based on: governing_jurisdiction_lodging_tax_touches_str
Summary of the rule
The City of Oxford (the governing jurisdiction — an incorporated municipality) levies its OWN 2% municipal Tourism and Economic Development Tax on the gross proceeds of sales from room rentals of motels or hotels in Oxford (Chapter 865, Laws of 1983; am. Chapter 930, Laws of 1984; Chapter 19, Laws of 1988; House Bill 1868, 1997 Regular Session; effective June 1, 1983, no repeal date). The enabling law defines 'hotel' or 'motel' broadly as 'any place of lodging that at any one time will accommodate transient guests on a daily or weekly basis and that is known to the trade as such' — with NO 6-guest-room floor, this reaches whole-home short-term rentals.
View the ordinance source ↗✓ Verified
Last reviewed Sep 14, 2026 · Sources · Report an error
Pending legislation
Monitoring Oxford · system last checked Oct 25, 2026
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City Watch provides good-faith summaries of publicly available information as of the review date shown. Rules, enforcement, and permit availability can change, and summaries may contain errors or omissions. Ratings describe the general regulatory environment; they do not establish whether a particular property or stay is permitted. This is general information, not legal advice. Before buying, listing, or hosting, verify applicable requirements with the responsible authorities and review any HOA, condominium, deed, or lease restrictions.