Lodging Safety Initiative

The City of Branson is launching a new ‘Lodging Safety Initiative’ designed to ensure all lodging establishments operating within city limits are complying with required public health and safety standards. As a premier destination for millions of visitors annually, Branson offers a wide range of lodging establishments including motels and hotels, condominiums, bed and breakfasts, resorts, and other types of lodging establishments. Through the implementation of the Lodging Safety Initiative, the City of Branson is emphasizing a focused commitment to ensure consistency and accountability in the protection of public health and safety for visiting guests and other occupants of lodging establishments located within city limits. 

This initiative is the result of a comprehensive review of the City’s adopted codes, along with input from various business and non-profit stakeholders. It is intended to provide clear direction to City departments on the priority of public health and safety code compliance. The initiative implements a framework of enforcing existing codes and authority of the City in encouraging compliance with local ordinances regarding building structures, property maintenance, and fire code requirements that protect public health and safety. When appropriate, this initiative will address severe offenders operating establishments under non-compliant conditions with significant public health and/or life safety violations. 

Frequently Asked Questions:

How many licensed lodging establishments operate within the City?

 There are approximately 115 licensed lodging establishments operating within the City at any given time throughout the year.  

What is the definition of a “lodging establishment”?

Pursuant to Branson Municipal Code Sec. 22-1, a lodging establishment is defined as: “Any building, group of buildings, structure, facility, place, or places of business where five or more guestrooms are provided, which is owned, maintained or operated by any person, and which is kept, used, maintained, advertised or held out to the public for hire which can be construed to be a hotel, motel, apartment hotel, resort, cabin, tourist home, bunkhouse, dormitory, or other similar place by whatever name called, and includes all such accommodations operated for hire as lodging establishments for either transient guests, nontransient guests, or for both transient and nontransient guests.” 

What is required for a lodging establishment to receive a City of Branson Business License?

 The City of Branson requires all lodging establishments to: 

 · Submit a completed business license application; 

· Provide payment for the business license fee and tourism tax bond; 

· Provide a copy of their Missouri Retail Sales License, which must indicate the Branson business address, and specify they are registered within the city limits of Branson; 

· The responsible party signing the application must provide a copy of their Driver’s License; 

· Schedule all health and safety inspections, including Fire, Property Maintenance, and if needed building inspections (i.e. open permits and/or occupancy permit) and receive approval by the respective departments; 

· Provide a copy of a valid Lodging Permit issued by the Taney County Health Department; 

· Provide a copy of a valid Lodging License issued by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services 

How do I know if a lodging establishment has a City of Branson Business License and State Lodging License?

All licenses granted by the City of Branson are required by code to be prominently posted and be available for examination during normal business hours. A current lodging establishment permit shall also be posted at all times in a prominent and conspicuous place in the lodging establishment where it may be readily observed by lodging establishment patrons. To directly inquire on the status of an establishment’s license, please contact the City Planning and Development Department by calling (417) 337-8551.  

When are the licenses renewed?

 The City of Branson’s annual license year for lodging establishments runs from November 1 through October 31. Lodging establishments are classified as businesses that are required to also have a State of Missouri Lodging License. The state licensing year runs from October 1 to September 30 and is required to be renewed annually. 

How do I report my concerns about a lodging establishment?

 To report a concern about a lodging establishment’s operations, please contact the City Planning and Development Department by calling (417) 337-8551 or by accessing the City’s online portal here. 

 If you need immediate assistance to report a life threatening or dangerous situation, please dial 911. 

 

Additional Links:

 If you are interested in applying for a City of Branson Business License you can access an application here. 

 For additional instructions on completing a business license application, please do not hesitate to call the Planning and Development Department at (417) 337-8551 or access our online business license instructional brochure.

 For access to all applications and permits issued by the City of Branson, please visit our website.