Ohio’s short-term rental laws can look refreshingly straightforward at first glance. There’s no statewide STR license to obtain, and the state’s role is largely confined to taxes and general legal parameters. But dig a little deeper and you’ll find a patchwork of city and county rules that govern where you can operate, which permits you need, the number of guests you can host, and how your property must be managed day-to-day.
The result is a local‑first framework that varies block by block in some metros.
This article explores Ohio’s short-term rental rules in 2026 and beyond, and explores how to translate the rules into practical, privacy-first operations.
Ohio regulates short-term rentals through a combination of state tax law and local ordinances. The state applies a tax to transient lodging and authorizes local lodging taxes, while cities and counties set most operating rules through zoning, permitting, occupancy, and nuisance standards.
Ohio law does not define a single, statewide “short-term rental.” Instead, STRs are defined locally, often under terms like “short‑term rental,” “transient rental,” or “vacation rental.” Many jurisdictions draw the line at stays under 29 or 30 consecutive nights, but the cutoff is in the city or county code you operate under. For tax purposes, the Ohio Administrative Code interprets a “transient guest” as someone staying under 30 days.
Ohio applies a state‑level tax to transient lodging (often around 5.75–6%), and additional county and city lodging taxes may apply. That state tax generally applies to the full price of the stay, including rent, cleaning fees, and required charges. Ohio’s sales and use tax chapter authorizes and structures how lodging is taxed statewide. Operators typically register with the Ohio Department of Taxation unless they exclusively use a platform that fully collects and remits on their behalf.
Counties and cities often impose their own lodging, bed, or excise taxes with separate registrations and filing schedules. For example:
Ohio currently doesn’t have a comprehensive short-term rental preemption law, so cities and counties currently have broad authority to regulate land use, licensing, and nuisance issues related to STRs.
However, pending legislation (SB 104 and HB 109) would limit some local tools if enacted, such as outright bans, caps on the number of STRs, and owner-occupancy mandates. Operators should monitor state activity closely, as the regulatory balance may shift.
For now, most of what matters happens locally. Cities and counties decide:
Zoning compatibility, occupancy caps, parking, signage, and noise controls are all set in local code. This is why two STRs across a municipal line, or even across a zoning boundary, can face different requirements, fees, and enforcement intensities.
Ohio cities and counties often decide whether STRs are a residential use, a lodging use, or a conditional use. Some jurisdictions allow STRs broadly with standards. Others limit non‑owner‑occupied STRs to certain mixed‑use or commercial districts, or require a conditional use approval for detached homes in low‑density neighborhoods. As a result, verifying the underlying zoning district for each property is a foundational due diligence step.
Licensing is where the day‑to‑day rules live. Columbus requires a license for any STR, the permit number to be posted inside the unit and in listings, and mandates a 24/7 local emergency contact. The city also requires BCI fingerprint background checks for the applicant, the on‑call contact, and any property manager, with annual fees set by whether the unit is a primary residence.
Cincinnati runs a citywide registry and registration is valid for three years. Like Columbus, Cincinnati requires displaying the registration ID both within the unit and on listings.
Toledo requires a short-term rental permit for each property, renewed annually. There are occupancy caps and fines for advertising without a permit.
Across programs, three elements recur: posting the permit ID in ads, naming a 24/7 local contact, and renewing on a strict cadence.
Historically, some Ohio jurisdictions have drawn distinctions between primary‑residence STRs and non‑owner‑occupied units, or limited the number of days per year non‑primary residences can be rented. As an example of a strict approach, Dublin limits STR activity to two seven‑day increments per calendar year, while also requiring registration and a local point of contact.
Because the General Assembly is debating bills that could curb such tools, operators should treat owner‑occupancy mandates and annual caps as subject to change rather than permanent features.
The state’s transient lodging tax typically runs around 5.75–6%, with local lodging taxes for counties and cities stacked on top. In many Ohio markets, the combined rate falls between 9% and 15% once state, county, and city components are added.
Major platforms may collect some layers of tax automatically, often the state rate and sometimes a county or city excise if a collection agreement exists. But “platform collects” isn’t a blanket exemption from compliance. Codes in cities like Columbus make clear that hosts are responsible for any taxes a platform doesn’t collect, and they must still register and file returns where required. In ordinance 41-2021, Cincinnati similarly explains how its 7% excise is remitted when a platform has an agreement and when it does not.
Noise is regulated locally and quiet hours are common, often running from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. Many ordinances also restrict parties and events.
For professional operators, prevention is better than cure. Privacy‑safe monitoring that detects sustained noise above permitted thresholds and automates courteous reminders can defuse issues before they escalate, and keep you on the right side of regulations.
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Ohio cities often limit overnight occupancy to two adults per bedroom, sometimes allowing two additional guests beyond that, such as in Toledo. Parking plans are often part of the permit submission, especially in dense neighborhoods where on‑street competition is a recurring complaint.
Local programs typically require basic life‑safety equipment, such as smoke alarms, carbon monoxide detectors, and fire extinguishers, and many of these require initial or periodic inspections. Columbus details sleeping room square‑footage minimums and interior posting requirements in its STR guidance, underlining that STRs are expected to meet minimum housing and fire standards.
Ohio’s short-term rental laws can be deceptively complex: the state sets the tax baseline and leaves most operating rules to cities and counties, which means compliance is hyperlocal and evolving. Success comes from understanding your zoning, securing the right permits, stacking state and local tax registrations properly, and running a professional operation that minimizes neighbor impacts.
With the right playbook, you can scale compliantly in cities, suburbs, and resort communities.
Yes, STRs are legal in Ohio, but they’re governed primarily by local ordinances. You must comply with your city or county’s zoning, licensing, and nuisance rules and collect the appropriate state and local lodging taxes.
No, there is no statewide STR license. The state sets tax and general legal parameters, while cities and counties handle land‑use, licensing, and nuisance issues.
Expect a state‑level tax on transient lodging plus local lodging excises where applicable. Combined rates frequently fall between 9% and 15%, depending on the city and county.
Sometimes. Platforms like Airbnb may collect the state rate and, in certain cities, a local excise under a collection agreement. Cincinnati confirms platform collection for Airbnb, for example, but hosts remain responsible for any taxes a platform doesn’t collect and for required registrations and filings. Always verify your obligations with each jurisdiction.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or tax advice. Laws and policies change, and their application depends on specific facts. Always consult with qualified legal or tax professionals and verify requirements with relevant state, county, and municipal agencies before operating a short‑term rental in Ohio.
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