Short-Term Rentals in Story County, IA (2026)

2 rules for unincorporated Story County, Iowa.

Verified from official government sources

Note: These county rules apply to unincorporated areas of Story County. If you live within an incorporated city, that city's own rules apply: see the city list below.

Short-Term Rental Permits

In unincorporated Story County, turning a spare room into overnight-guest lodging is treated as a home business, not a hands-off short-term rental. The county's Land Development Regulations require a home business permit for a bed and breakfast home, cap it at two families of guests at any one time, require the host to live in the home, and limit food service to registered overnight guests only.

Bed and Breakfast Home Permit in Story County

Some Restrictions

Story County Code of Ordinances § 85.08

“Bed and breakfast home” means an accessory use of a single-family dwelling for the accommodation of overnight guests, which such use is permitted through a home business permit addressing those standards for approval as well as the following: accommodations must be in the family home that the host/hostess is in residence; accommodations are limited to a maximum of two families at any one time;...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Occupancy Limits

A bed and breakfast operating as a home business in unincorporated Story County can host no more than two families' worth of overnight guests at any one time, under Code of Ordinances § 85.08(23). The host must live in the home, keep three years of guest registration records, and serve food only to overnight guests.

Bed and Breakfast Occupancy Limit

Some Restrictions

Story County Code of Ordinances § 85.08(23)

23. “Bed and breakfast home” means an accessory use of a single-family dwelling for the accommodation of overnight guests, which such use is permitted through a home business permit addressing those standards for approval as well as the following: accommodations must be in the family home that the host/hostess is in residence; accommodations are limited to a maximum of two families at any one...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

All Story County ordinances

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