Short-term rental permit rules in Lakewood, OH — also called Airbnb permits, vacation rental licenses, or STR registration — list the application steps, fees, and operating requirements for hosting.
Lakewood's short-term rental ordinance requires a Short Term Rental Permit from the Building Department before any unit may be rented for 30 days or less, and in residential districts an STR is only allowed as a conditional use on an owner's primary residence.
Under Lakewood Codified Ordinances Section 783, enacted by Ordinance 23-2025, a 'Short Term Rental' is any rental unit not classified as a motel or hotel that is rented for 30 days or less. No person may operate one without first obtaining a Short Term Rental Permit issued by the Lakewood Building Department. The application must include proof of ownership, contact information for a local responsible party available 24/7, certification of compliance with all applicable building, health, and fire codes, and payment of an annual permit fee set by Council. Permits are valid for one year and may be revoked or not renewed for ordinance violations. Section 1161.03(cc) additionally treats STRs in R2 Residential, Single and Two Family, or residential Multifamily (ML/MH) districts as a conditional use requiring Planning Commission approval, and limits operation to the primary residence of the owner or an authorized long-term tenant.
Operating without a valid permit, or violating permit conditions, may result in fines, permit revocation, or both, under the City's enforcement procedures (LCO 783(d) and (f)).
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