Primary-Residence-Only Rule
Lucas County imposes no primary-residence requirement, and Toledo's Chapter 702 does not require an STR to be the owner's primary residence. Non-owner-occupied whole-home rentals are permitted if licensed and compliant.
10 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Lucas County, Ohio.
Verified from official government sources
Lucas County itself issues no short-term rental permit and does not zone the unincorporated area. Permitting is set by your city or township. In Toledo, Chapter 702 requires an annual $50 operating permit before you rent or advertise.
Lucas County has no county-wide STR noise ordinance in the unincorporated townships. Noise is enforced by your city or township, with Ohio's disorderly-conduct statute (ORC 2917.11) as the statewide backstop for unreasonable noise.
Lucas County levies a hotel/motel lodging tax under ORC 5739.09 that applies to short-term lodging. County remittance forms show 7% and 10% tiers. This is separate from the state sales tax and any Toledo permit fee.
ORC 5739.09(A)(1)
A board of county commissioners may, by resolution adopted by a majority of the members of the board, levy an excise tax not to exceed three per cent on transactions by which lodging by a hotel is or is to be furnished to transient guests.
Lucas County sets no STR parking rule. Toledo's Chapter 702 permit requires a site plan identifying off-street parking spaces for the maximum overnight guests. Township and city zoning otherwise governs parking.
Lucas County sets no county-wide occupancy cap for short-term rentals. In Toledo, Chapter 702 limits an STR to two guests per bedroom plus two additional guests. Other cities and townships set their own limits.
Lucas County sets no STR insurance rule, but Toledo's Chapter 702 requires proof of general liability insurance of at least $1,000,000 to obtain a short-term rental operating permit.
Neither Lucas County nor the City of Toledo caps the number of nights a short-term rental may operate per year. A permitted, insured STR may rent year-round subject to occupancy and other rules.
There is no county STR registry. In Toledo, an STR permit application must show the property is registered as a residential rental and passes life-safety, tax, and water-bill compliance checks before the operating permit is issued.
Lucas County has no host-presence rule. Toledo's Chapter 702 does not require the host to be on site but does require a designated local representative available 24/7 who can respond to complaints within 45 minutes.
Lucas County imposes no primary-residence requirement, and Toledo's Chapter 702 does not require an STR to be the owner's primary residence. Non-owner-occupied whole-home rentals are permitted if licensed and compliant.
1 cities in Lucas County have their own short-term rentals rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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