Overview and Explicit Status

• Are short-term rentals (STRs) allowed in Searcy, AR? Yes. Short-term rentals are permitted within the City of Searcy, provided the operator complies with City Code, pays all applicable taxes, and maintains all required licenses, permits, inspections, and contact requirements. STRs are allowed in all zoning districts except Industrial.

What This Means for Investors

• Market viability: Active and regulated; the City has adopted a comprehensive STR ordinance and licensing process.
• Operating model: “One dwelling unit per license” (no more than one STR license per unit) and “one whole-home plus one partial-home” per owner are permitted; each requires a separate license and fee.
• Compliance path: Secure a City business license and advertising & promotions (A&P) tax permit, pass annual safety inspections, post required guest information, collect and remit lodging tax, and ensure 24/7 local response capability.

How to Start a Short-Term Rental Business in Searcy

Step 1: Confirm Zoning and Use Permissions

• STRs are a permitted lodging use in all zoning districts except Industrial.
• Your property must continue to conform to all underlying zoning requirements.
• Off-street parking must meet Chapter 6 standards in the City Code.

Step 2: Obtain the Required City Licenses and Permits

• Business License (Short-Term Rental)
  • Application: City of Searcy Code Enforcement office.
  • Applicant: Property owner or authorized agent with written authorization.
  • Annual fee: $25 per STR unit.
• Advertising & Promotions (A&P) Tax Permit
  • Required prior to issuance of the STR business license.
  • Operate and remit A&P lodging taxes through the City’s GovOS portal: experiencesearcy.munirevs.com
  • Registration can be done online; support provided by GovOS.

Step 3: Complete Annual Safety Inspections

• Initial and annual inspections by the Fire Marshal and Building Inspection Official.
• Compliance required with:
  • Arkansas Fire Prevention Code
  • International Building Code (IBC)
  • National Swimming Pool Code (if applicable)

Step 4: Designate a Local Property Representative

• Must be available 24/7 and able to respond in person within one hour to handle complaints.
• Provide current contact details (name, address, phone) to:
  • City of Searcy Code Enforcement
  • City of Searcy Police Department
• Failure to maintain current contact information can result in license suspension or revocation.

Step 5: Set Up Tax Collection and Remittance

• Lodging Tax: 3% (Food Service Tax: 1% for applicable sales)
• Monthly filings due by the last day of the month following the reporting period. Zero-file required if no rental activity occurred.
• Acceptable payment methods in GovOS: ACH (e-check), Visa, Mastercard, Discover.
• If using platforms (e.g., Airbnb/Vrbo), be aware the City does not have a direct integration with these platforms; hosts remain responsible for proper tax remittance.

Step 6: Prepare the Unit and Guest Information

• Post required information in the STR unit’s common area:
  • Property address
  • Owner and local property representative names and contact numbers
  • License expiration date
  • Maximum overnight occupancy
  • Noise and use restrictions
  • Off-street parking locations and quantities
  • Trash handling rules (no public view except in proper collection containers) and collection schedule
  • Evacuation routes
  • Guest responsibilities to avoid trespassing and disturbances
  • Notice that guests must comply with all applicable city regulations and may be cited or fined for violations

Step 7: Licensing, Advertising, and Operations

• License: Print and display the STR license and emergency information conspicuously within the unit.
• Advertising: Do not advertise or rent your unit until both the City business license and A&P permit are active.
• Renew annually; schedule and pass annual fire/building inspections before license renewal.
• Maintain active local property representative contact and respond to complaints within one hour.

Required Documents, Permits, Licenses, and Guidelines

Licenses and Permits

• City of Searcy Business License (Short-Term Rental) — required, $25 annual fee.
• Searcy Advertising & Promotions (A&P) Tax Permit — required prior to business license issuance.
• Tax Filings: Lodging Tax (3%) and Food Service Tax (1%) filed monthly via GovOS portal.

Inspections and Safety

• Annual safety inspection by the Fire Marshal and Building Inspection Official.
• Compliance with Arkansas Fire Prevention Code, IBC, and National Swimming Pool Code.

Ongoing Obligations

• Designate and maintain a local property representative available 24/7 with one-hour response capability.
• Post required guest information in the unit.
• Collect and remit all applicable federal, state, and local taxes.
• Maintain current contact information on file with Code Enforcement and the Police Department.
• Maintain zoning and parking compliance.

Key Ordinances and Reference Materials

• Ordinance No. 2022-22 (effective Jan 1, 2023) — establishes STR standards and definitions.
• Article 5-11 Short-Term Rentals — operational standards, licensing, posting requirements, revocation, and appeal process.
• City STR Requirements & Checklist — practical checklist to guide compliance.
• STR Permit Application (A&P application) — permit initiation documents.

Source documents:

• Ordinance No. 2022-22 (PDF): cityofsearcy.squarespace.com/s/2022-22-Ordinance_Amending-the-Zoning-Code-establishing-standards-for-short-term-rentals-Copy.pdf
• Article 5-11 Short-Term Rentals (PDF): cityofsearcy.squarespace.com/s/Art-5-11-Short-Term-Rentals.pdf
• City STR page with checklist links: cityofsearcy.org/cityservices/short-term-rentals

Specific Regulations for STRs in Searcy (City, County, and State)

City of Searcy Regulations (Primary)

• Permitted zones: All districts except Industrial.
• Occupancy: Maximum overnight occupancy equals two (2) persons per bedroom plus two (2) additional persons.
• Parking: Off-street parking must meet Chapter 6 requirements; STR operations must not create unregulated street parking impacts.
• Licensing and fees: One STR business license per dwelling unit; $25 annual fee.
• Inspections: Fire Marshal and Building Official inspection annually; compliance with Arkansas Fire Prevention Code, IBC, and National Swimming Pool Code.
• Local property representative: 24/7 availability; one-hour response to complaints; contact details filed with Code Enforcement and Police Department.
• Posting requirements: License and safety/compliance information must be displayed in the STR unit’s common area.
• Revocation/suspension: May be issued for false statements, failure to report changes within 30 days, sanitation or safety code violations, failure to respond to two or more complaints within 12 months, or nonpayment of taxes.
• Appeals: License revocation can be appealed to the Searcy City Council within 30 days.
• Taxes:
  • Lodging Tax: 3% due monthly (no later than the last day of the following month).
  • Food Service Tax: 1% where applicable.
  • Penalties: Late penalty is the greater of $5 or 5% of the tax due (capped at 35%); interest accrues at 10% per annum.
  • Filing: Through GovOS portal (experiencesearcy.munirevs.com).
• Registration and payment support:
  • GovOS Support: blt.str.support@govos.com; phone (888) 751-1911.

White County Level

• No separate White County short-term rental regulations were identified in the provided content. Operators should treat the City of Searcy rules as the primary local requirements within city limits.

State of Arkansas Level

• General sales and use tax environment:
  • Arkansas imposes state sales tax on taxable sales; lodging and certain ancillary services may be subject to state tax in addition to local lodging taxes.
  • The City’s A&P lodging tax (3%) is administered separately from state sales tax; investors should verify any applicable state sales tax obligations for their specific services and supplies (e.g., incidentals or taxable items sold to guests).
  • Many short-term rental platforms do not collect local lodging taxes; hosts are responsible for registering and remitting local taxes directly.
• Note: This guide does not include a separate state-level ordinance because none was provided in the source content. Consult the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration (DFA) for definitive state tax guidance on STR-related sales.

Local Authority Contacts and Application/Support Information

City of Searcy – Code Enforcement (Business License, Inspections, Ordinance Compliance)

• Official STR portal and links: cityofsearcy.org/cityservices/short-term-rentals
• Mailing address: City of Searcy Code Enforcement, City Hall (see City website for current address)
• Phone/Email: Not provided in source content; check cityofsearcy.org/departments for current contact details or submit via the Citizen Help Request Portal at searcycitizenrequest.portal.iworq.net/SEARCY/new-request/700/8164

City of Searcy – Planning & Development

• Portal page: cityofsearcy.org/planning-development
• Business Licenses: cityofsearcy.org/cityservices/business-licenses
• Notes: Additional contact information not included in source; see official pages for current details.

GovOS (Online Licensing, A&P Tax Registration, and Remittance)

• Portal: experiencesearcy.munirevs.com
• Support email: blt.str.support@govos.com
• Support phone: (888) 751-1911
• Assistance scope: Account setup, tax filing, payments, multi-property management, activation codes, and technical troubleshooting.

Quick-Start Checklist for Investors

• Confirm zoning (Industrial districts excluded) and parking compliance.
• Apply for STR Business License and pay $25 annual fee.
• Apply for A&P Tax Permit; set up GovOS account for lodging tax filings.
• Schedule and pass Fire Marshal/Building inspection (annual renewal).
• Designate a local property representative; provide 24/7 contact details to Code Enforcement and Police Department.
• Post all required guest information in the unit.
• Collect 3% lodging tax monthly; remit by month-end via GovOS; zero-file when applicable.
• Maintain license, inspection, and contact information current; respond to complaints within one hour.
• Do not advertise or rent until all approvals are active; renew annually.

Important Notes and Cautions

• License limit: No more than one STR business license per dwelling unit; one whole-home plus one partial-home STR per owner is permitted; each requires its own license and fee.
• Inspections and safety: Annual inspections are mandatory for license renewal.
• Contact requirements: Keep owner and local property representative contact details current with City authorities; lapses can lead to suspension or revocation.
• Tax rigor: File monthly lodging tax even with zero rental activity; penalties and interest apply to late filings.
• Platform integration: City does not integrate directly with Airbnb or Vrbo; hosts remain responsible for local compliance and tax remittance.

Source Links

• City of Searcy – Short-Term Rentals page (resources and PDFs): www.cityofsearcy.org/cityservices/short-term-rentals
• Article 5-11 Short-Term Rentals (PDF): cityofsearcy.squarespace.com/s/Art-5-11-Short-Term-Rentals.pdf
• STR Permit Application (A&P Application) (PDF): cityofsearcy.squarespace.com/s/AP-Application-for-Permit.pdf
• STR Requirements & Checklist (PDF): cityofsearcy.squarespace.com/s/STR-Requirements-Checklist.pdf
• Ordinance No. 2022-22 establishing STR standards (PDF): cityofsearcy.squarespace.com/s/2022-22-Ordinance_Amending-the-Zoning-Code-establishing-standards-for-short-term-rentals-Copy.pdf
• Searcy A&P Tax Portal (GovOS): experiencesearcy.munirevs.com/faq/