Bowling Green, KY Short-Term Rentals: Host Presence Rule (2026)

After reviewing the Bowling Green Zoning Ordinance Article 5, Section 5.2.4(C)(4)(c), the City of Bowling Green Short Term Rental Guide, and the City-County Planning Commission's STR program materials, there is no codified host-presence requirement that would limit STR operation to hosted (owner-on-site) models. Both whole-dwelling and room-by-room STR configurations may operate unhosted provided the CUP and Short Term Rental license remain in good standing and the operator complies with the per-room design occupancy (2 persons per rented room), per-guest-room off-street parking standard, and no-excessive-noise-or-traffic backstop in 5.2.4(C)(4)(c). This contrasts with cities such as Longmont CO, where room-by-room rentals categorically require an on-site owner, agent, or property manager. Note that 'Bowling Green' in some publicly circulated materials refers to Bowling Green, Ohio (a separate municipality with a different STR ordinance that does include a 35-mile local-agent radius requirement); Kentucky's Bowling Green does not import that rule. The absence of a mandatory host-presence rule reflects the program's design as a land-use regulation focused on neighborhood impact rather than a hospitality regulation. The Board of Zoning Adjustment may impose case-specific host-presence or local-contact conditions on an individual CUP if warranted by neighborhood testimony at the public hearing; operators should review their CUP approval order for any property-specific conditions. Prudent operators (whether or not their CUP requires it) designate a local point of contact reachable 24/7 who can respond promptly to neighbor or city complaints; failure to address complaints contributes to the 'excessive traffic generation, noise and light' record the BZA may consider at CUP review or revocation.