LFUCG Code Chapter 17.4 governs short-term rentals across Lexington-Fayette but does not impose a host-presence requirement; both hosted and unhosted whole-home rentals are allowed if registered.
Unlike cities such as San Francisco that demand the operator sleep on-site, Lexington's STR ordinance under Ch. 17.4 treats hosted and unhosted rentals identically once a registration certificate is issued. Whole-home rentals where the owner lives elsewhere are permitted in most residential zones, subject to occupancy and parking standards. KRS §82.085 partially preempts Kentucky cities from banning STRs outright, which shaped LFUCG's lighter touch. The Division of Planning processes registrations and verifies the unit meets life-safety basics before issuing the certificate.
Operating without a registration certificate, even if the host is present, can trigger code-enforcement citations of $100 to $500 per day and revocation of the right to list on platforms.
Lexington, KY
Lexington-Fayette does not restrict short-term rentals to a host's primary residence; investors may register multiple properties under Chapter 17.4 as long a...
Lexington, KY
LFUCG Code Enforcement uses a graduated strike approach against short-term rentals that generate repeated nuisance complaints, escalating from warnings to fi...
See how Lexington's host presence rule rules stack up against other locations.
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