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Lorain County, OH Short-Term Rentals: Night Caps (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Annual night cap
None
Per-stay limit
29 days maximum
30+ day stays
Treated as tenancy
Year-round operation
Allowed if licensed
Definition source
Cod. Ord. 1537.05 / 195.03

Summary

Lorain County sets no annual cap on rental nights. Lorain's code limits each short-term stay to 29 days per guest but places no ceiling on how many nights per year a property may be rented.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Lorain County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

"Transient guests" means persons occupying a room or rooms for sleeping accommodations for pay periods not-to-exceed 29 days.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2025-01: Local legislation current through September 2, 2025 | State legislation current through June 5, 2025).

Full Breakdown

There is no countywide or city annual night cap on short-term rentals in the Lorain metro. The only durational rule is per-stay: Lorain Cod. Ord. 1537.05 and Chapter 195 both define a 'transient guest' as someone occupying the dwelling for no more than 29 days. Stays of 30 days or longer become a standard tenancy outside the short-term-rental and lodging-tax framework. A licensed STR may otherwise operate year-round, subject to its Housing License, Conditional Use Permit, and lodging-tax obligations. No verbatim annual-night limit appears in the official code.

Violations & Fines

There is no night-cap penalty; renting beyond 29 days per stay simply moves the arrangement into ordinary landlord-tenant law rather than the STR/lodging-tax rules.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a yearly limit on rental nights?
No. Lorain County and the City of Lorain set no maximum number of nights per year; a licensed short-term rental may operate throughout the year.
What is the maximum stay length?
A single transient-guest stay may not exceed 29 days. Beyond that, the occupancy is treated as a regular tenancy, not a short-term rental.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Lorain County

Parking Rules: Overnight ParkingSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Street Parking LimitsSome RestrictionsShort-Term Rental PermitsSome RestrictionsHost Presence RuleSome RestrictionsInsurance RequirementsSome RestrictionsOccupancy LimitsSome RestrictionsTaxes & FeesSome RestrictionsPrimary-Residence-Only RuleSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Loading ZonesSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Commercial & Oversized VehiclesSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Driveway RulesSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Abandoned VehiclesSome Restrictions

All Lorain County rules

Compare Lorain County to another location·View the Ohio short-term rentals overview

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