Louisville, KY Short-Term Rentals: Short-Term Rental Permits (2026)
Short-term rental permit rules in Louisville, KY, also called Airbnb permits, vacation rental licenses, or STR registration, list the application steps, fees, and operating requirements for hosting.
Key Facts
- Registration required
- Annual, before operating any STR
- Fee
- $250 nonrefundable per year
- Enforcing agency
- Develop Louisville (Planning & Design)
- First-offense penalty
- $125 civil fine
- Revoked host ban
- 1 year ineligible to re-register
Summary
Louisville Metro requires every short-term rental in Jefferson County to register annually with Develop Louisville before operating, backed by a $250 fee and civil penalties starting at $125.
No person, firm, or corporation shall own or operate a short term rental on any premises within Jefferson County unless the short term rental has been registered annually with the Louisville Metro Department of Develop Louisville.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-47: Supplement contains: Local legislation current through Ordinances passed by the Council and approved by the Mayor as of July 1, 2026).
Full Breakdown
Louisville Metro Code § 115.516 bars anyone from owning or operating a short-term rental anywhere in Jefferson County without an annual registration through the Department of Develop Louisville. Registration costs a nonrefundable $250 per § 115.517, must list the Host, an emergency contact within 25 miles, and the rental's location, and expires one year after issuance; renewal applications open only in the 30 days before expiration. The Director can deny, refuse to renew, or revoke a registration for unpaid fines or repeat violations, and a revoked Host is barred from re-registering for one year. Home rule cities inside the county, such as Anchorage or Jeffersontown, may layer on their own requirements.
Violations & Fines
First violation of the registration rules draws a $125 civil penalty, rising to $250, $500, then $1,000 for repeat offenses; each violation day after notice counts separately (§ 115.999(N)(1)).
Frequently Asked Questions
Who has to register a short-term rental in Louisville?
What does Louisville's STR registration cost?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Louisville
How Louisville compares: Most Airbnb-Friendly Cities in America·Compare Louisville to another location·View the Kentucky short-term rentals overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.