Short-Term Rentals in Louisville, KY (2026)

7 verified short-term rentals rules for Louisville, Kentucky, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.

Verified from official government sources

Short-Term Rental Permits

Louisville Metro requires every short-term rental in Jefferson County to register annually with Develop Louisville before operating, backed by a $250 fee and civil penalties starting at $125.

Louisville Short-Term Rental Registration Rules

Significant Restrictions

Louisville Metro Code of Ordinances § 115.516

No person, firm, or corporation shall own or operate a short term rental on any premises within Jefferson County unless the short term rental has been registered annually with the Louisville Metro Department of Develop Louisville.

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Taxes & Fees

Louisville Metro short-term rental hosts must register with the Revenue Commission and pay the 8.5% transient room tax plus the local occupational license tax on rental income.

Louisville STR Room Tax & License Fee Rules

Significant Restrictions

Louisville Metro Code of Ordinances § 115.519(A)-(C)

(A) Pursuant to LMCO Chapter 121, transient room taxes are to be collected and paid by the Host to the Louisville Metro Revenue Commission. Transient occupancy taxes are ultimately the responsibility of the host... (B) Pursuant to LMCO Chapter 110, the Host is subject to occupational license taxes to the Louisville Metro Government. (C) The Host shall register with the Louisville Metro Revenue ...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Short-Term Rental Parking Rules

Louisville Metro requires short-term rentals approved by conditional use permit to provide sufficient host and guest parking, but the Board of Zoning Adjustment sets the actual amount case by case rather than a fixed number.

Louisville STR Parking: No Fixed Minimum

Some Restrictions

Louisville Metro Land Development Code, Ch. 4 Part 2, § 4.2.63.H (Short Term Rental)

H. There shall be a sufficient amount of parking available for the host and guests, as determined by the Board of Zoning Adjustment. The amount and location of parking shall be based on the land uses and density of the immediate vicinity.

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Occupancy Limits

Louisville Metro caps short-term rental occupancy at twice the bedroom count plus two guests, with a hard ceiling of 12 people over 16.

Louisville STR Occupancy Caps

Some Restrictions

Louisville Metro Land Development Code, Ch. 4 Part 2, § 4.2.63.C

At no time shall more persons reside in the short term rental than two times the number of bedrooms plus two individuals, except where the registered property is in excess of two acres in which case the occupancy limit shall be two times the number of bedrooms plus six individuals. If the aforementioned occupancy allows for more than 12 individuals, there shall be a maximum of 12 persons over t...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Primary-Residence-Only Rule

In Louisville Metro's residential zoning districts, a short-term rental must be the owner's primary residence unless a conditional use permit says otherwise.

Louisville Short-Term Rentals Owner Residency

Some Restrictions

Louisville Metro Land Development Code, Ch. 4 Part 3, § 4.3.23 (Short Term Rentals)

In a R-R, R-E, R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, R-5, U-N, R-5A, R-5B, R-6, R-7 or R-8A district, a short term rental of dwelling unit that is the primary residence of the owner is permitted by the Planning Director with special standards set forth in this section... the short term rental shall be the owner's primary residence unless a conditional use permit allows otherwise. The owner shall have resided in ...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Repeat Violator Strikes

Louisville Metro revokes a short-term rental registration after two substantiated violations or complaints on the same property within 12 months.

Louisville: Two-Strike STR Registration Revocation

Significant Restrictions

Louisville Metro Code of Ordinances § 115.516(D)(2)

An active registration shall be revoked by the Planning Director if the property is subject to two or more substantiated civil and/or criminal complaints or the Host is found to have twice violated or failed to comply with any applicable provision of §§ 115.515 through 115.521 with respect to a given property within a 12 month period. When the Planning Director revokes a registration under this...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Host Platform Liability

Louisville Metro can order Hosting Platforms to pull short-term rental listings with invalid or revoked registration numbers within ten business days, and can subpoena platform records for enforcement.

Louisville Short-Term Rental Hosting Platform Rules

Some Restrictions

Louisville Metro Code of Ordinances § 115.521(B)

The Director may request that a Hosting Platform remove any listing or Short Term Rental Advertisement from the platform where the registration number associated with a short term rental listing is invalid, expired, or has been revoked. The Director must identify the listing(s) to be removed by the listing URL and displayed registration number (whether valid or invalid) and state the reason for...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗