The invention discloses a method and a device for transmitting a short message, which is used for realizing short message transmission in a zero launching scene. The method for transmitting the short message comprises the following steps that: in a zero launching scene cell, a radio network controller (RNC) broadcasts system information, wherein the RNC broadcasts system information comprises information for indicating that the cell is a zero launching scene cell, and the zero launching scene cell is a cell which does not permit the transmission of an uplink signal; the RNC receives a paging message sent by a mobile switch center (MSC), acquires the international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI) of user equipment (UE), replies a paging response to the MSC and initiates paging of the UE according to the IMSI of the UE; and the RCN acquires a short message sent by the MSC and sends a short message to the UE through a downlink common control channel (CCCH) according to the IMSI of the UE.