Boone County, KY Short-Term Rentals: Occupancy Limits (2026)
Key Facts
- Per-bedroom limit
- 2 adults, plus 2 more adults
- Total occupancy cap
- 10 persons (adults + children)
- Small bedroom limit
- 1 adult if under 120 sq ft
- Applies to
- Unincorporated Boone County only
Summary
Boone County caps short-term rental occupancy at two adult guests per bedroom plus two more adults, with a hard ceiling of ten people total, and limits bedrooms under 120 square feet to a single adult occupant.
Limit on occupants allowed. No more than two adult guests per bedroom, plus no more than two additional adults shall be allowed when renting a property as a short term rental, except that: (1) There shall be a maximum occupancy of no more than ten persons, adult and children. (2) Bedrooms under 120 square feet shall be limited to only one adult occupant.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2025 S-28: Supplement contains: Local legislation current through Ordinance 2025-20, passed 6-17-25; and State legislation current through KRS 2025).
Full Breakdown
05(D) sets the occupancy limit for short-term rentals in the unincorporated county: no more than two adult guests per bedroom, plus no more than two additional adults, may be allowed when renting the property, except that total occupancy, counting both adults and children, may never exceed ten persons, and any bedroom under 120 square feet is limited to a single adult occupant regardless of the general per-bedroom formula. 03(B)(4) and must be consistent with the number permitted by the zoning regulations for that property. 05(F) then requires every advertisement and rental contract to state the allowed maximum number of occupants so guests are on notice before booking.
The occupancy cap applies only to short-term rentals in the unincorporated areas of Boone County; it does not govern rentals inside Florence, Union or Walton, which apply their own municipal rules.
Violations & Fines
Exceeding the occupancy cap is enforced under § 114.08: a Boone County Code Enforcement Officer, Building Inspector or sworn law enforcement officer issues a notice of violation, and a citation follows if the property remains out of compliance seven days later, with civil fines of $200 per instance and $500 for each repeat violation within 365 days, secured by a lien on the property and appealable to Boone County District Court within 30 days of the citation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the maximum number of guests allowed at a Boone County short-term rental?
Does a small bedroom count the same as a large one?
Does the listing have to state the occupancy limit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Boone County
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