Model Context Protocol
A hosted MCP server for STR rules and lodging tax
MCP is the open standard that lets AI agents call external tools without custom glue code. Point any MCP-capable client at LodgeDeck’s endpoint and it gets cited short-term rental rules, lodging tax and a deterministic eligibility check as first-class tools, no wrapper to write, no ordinance to guess at.
Setup
Add the server
Streamable HTTP transport, JSON-RPC 2.0, one URL, no local process to run.
Endpoint:
https://lodgedeck.vercel.app/api/mcp
Config snippet for Claude Desktop, Claude Code, Cursor or any client that reads an mcpServers map. Every tool works with no Authorizationheader at the anonymous rate; a key raises the throttle to your plan's quota.
mcp config
{
"mcpServers": {
"lodgedeck": {
"url": "https://lodgedeck.vercel.app/api/mcp",
"headers": {
"Authorization": "Bearer ld_live_..."
}
}
}
}Tools
What the server exposes
Four tools over the same cited dataset the REST API and the website use. Each returns fields with their source and a confidence flag.
list_jurisdictions
List every jurisdiction covered, with slug, city, state and a coverage count. The index to call first. Free, no key needed.
arguments { "q": "california" }
get_str_rules
Short-term rental rules for one jurisdiction, each field source-cited with a confidence flag. Unconfirmed fields are null. Free, no key needed.
arguments { "city": "austin-tx" }
get_lodging_tax
Lodging / occupancy tax for one jurisdiction: state rate, local TOT, combined rate, cleaning-fee taxability, marketplace collection. Source-cited. Free, no key needed.
arguments { "city": "san-diego-ca" }
check_str_eligibility
Deterministic verdict on whether an STR is allowed for a jurisdiction and use type, with requirements, cautions, confidence and citations. Free, no key needed.
arguments { "city": "nashville-tn", "use_type": "whole_home" }
list_jurisdictions
tools/call request
POST https://lodgedeck.vercel.app/api/mcp
{
"jsonrpc": "2.0",
"id": 1,
"method": "tools/call",
"params": {
"name": "list_jurisdictions",
"arguments": {
"q": "california"
}
}
}response
{
"jsonrpc": "2.0",
"id": 1,
"result": {
"content": [
{
"type": "text",
"text": "{\"jurisdictions\":[{\"slug\":\"los-angeles-ca\",\"city\":\"Los Angeles\",\"state_code\":\"CA\"},{\"slug\":\"palm-springs-ca\",\"city\":\"Palm Springs\",\"state_code\":\"CA\"},{\"slug\":\"san-diego-ca\",\"city\":\"San Diego\",\"state_code\":\"CA\"},{\"slug\":\"san-francisco-ca\",\"city\":\"San Francisco\",\"state_code\":\"CA\"}]}"
}
]
}
}get_str_rules
tools/call request
POST https://lodgedeck.vercel.app/api/mcp
{
"jsonrpc": "2.0",
"id": 1,
"method": "tools/call",
"params": {
"name": "get_str_rules",
"arguments": {
"city": "austin-tx"
}
}
}response
{
"jsonrpc": "2.0",
"id": 1,
"result": {
"content": [
{
"type": "text",
"text": "{\"slug\":\"austin-tx\",\"city\":\"Austin\",\"rules\":{\"permit_required\":{\"value\":true,\"source\":\"https://www.austintexas.gov/department/license-my-short-term-rental\",\"confidence\":\"reported\",\"note\":\"A city STR licence is required for each unit; licences are valid for two years.\"},\"primary_residence_required\":{\"value\":false,\"source\":\"https://www.austintexas.gov/development-services/short-term-rentals\",\"confidence\":\"reported\",\"note\":\"Austin uses licence types (owner-occupied Type 1 and non-owner-occupied Type 2); a primary residence is not required for all types.\"},\"night_cap\":{\"value\":null,\"source\":null,\"confidence\":\"unverified\",\"note\":\"No annual night cap identified for Austin STRs.\"}}}"
}
]
}
}get_lodging_tax
tools/call request
POST https://lodgedeck.vercel.app/api/mcp
{
"jsonrpc": "2.0",
"id": 1,
"method": "tools/call",
"params": {
"name": "get_lodging_tax",
"arguments": {
"city": "san-diego-ca"
}
}
}response
{
"jsonrpc": "2.0",
"id": 1,
"result": {
"content": [
{
"type": "text",
"text": "{\"slug\":\"san-diego-ca\",\"city\":\"San Diego\",\"tax\":{\"combined_rate_pct\":{\"value\":10.5,\"source\":\"https://www.sandiego.gov/treasurer/taxesfees/tot\",\"confidence\":\"reported\",\"note\":\"Rises to about 12.5 percent in Mission Beach, Pacific Beach and La Jolla where a 2 percent Tourism Marketing District assessment applies.\"},\"marketplace_collects\":{\"value\":true,\"source\":\"https://www.sandiego.gov/treasurer/taxesfees/tot\",\"confidence\":\"reported\"}}}"
}
]
}
}check_str_eligibility
tools/call request
POST https://lodgedeck.vercel.app/api/mcp
{
"jsonrpc": "2.0",
"id": 1,
"method": "tools/call",
"params": {
"name": "check_str_eligibility",
"arguments": {
"city": "nashville-tn",
"use_type": "whole_home"
}
}
}response
{
"jsonrpc": "2.0",
"id": 1,
"result": {
"content": [
{
"type": "text",
"text": "{\"slug\":\"nashville-tn\",\"city\":\"Nashville\",\"state\":\"Tennessee\",\"useType\":\"whole_home\",\"verdict\":\"allowed_with_permit\",\"headline\":\"Short-term rentals are allowed in Nashville once you obtain the required licence and follow the rules below.\",\"requirements\":[\"A short-term rental licence or registration is required before you list.\",\"Register or apply here: https://www.nashville.gov/departments/codes/short-term-rentals\"],\"cautions\":[\"Short-term rentals are restricted to certain zones. Confirm your property's zoning allows it.\",\"New not-owner-occupied permits are effectively banned in residential zones, limiting supply to designated commercial, mixed-use and downtown districts.\"],\"confidence\":\"high\",\"citations\":[{\"field\":\"permitRequired\",\"source\":\"https://www.nashville.gov/departments/codes/short-term-rentals\"},{\"field\":\"primaryResidenceRequired\",\"source\":\"https://www.nashville.gov/departments/codes/short-term-rentals/permit-types\"},{\"field\":\"zoningRestricted\",\"source\":\"https://www.nashville.gov/departments/codes/short-term-rentals/permit-types\"},{\"field\":\"enforcement\",\"source\":\"https://www.nashville.gov/departments/codes/short-term-rentals/permit-types\"}],\"disclaimerApplies\":true}"
}
]
}
}Anonymous calls are rate-limited to 4/min and 20/day per IP, enough to try the server from an agent config, not enough to build on. A free ld_test_ key raises every tool to 10/min against the real dataset and never bills. Pass Authorization: Bearer <key> for production limits: 60/min and 1,000 calls/mo on Pro, up to 300/min and 10,000/mo on Scale. See pricing for the full table.
LodgeDeck reports publicly available short-term rental rules and lodging tax rates and cites the source of each field. It is not legal or tax advice and it does not replace your own review. Ordinances and tax rates change often and automated collection can lag, so every field shows the source it came from and a confidence flag, and unconfirmed values are marked Unverified. Confirm with the jurisdiction before you rely on a rule or rate.