Owensboro, KY Short-Term Rentals: Short-Term Rental Permits (2026)
Short-term rental permit rules in Owensboro, KY, also called Airbnb permits, vacation rental licenses, or STR registration, list the application steps, fees, and operating requirements for hosting.
Key Facts
- Who must register
- Every short-term rental owner or operator
- Where
- City of Owensboro Finance Department, online form
- Registration term
- 1 year, renewed annually
- Late registration fine
- Up to $500 (60-day grace period)
- Added by
- Ordinance 19-2024, effective 12-17-2024
Summary
Every person, business, group, or organization that owns or operates a short-term rental in the City of Owensboro must register with the city's Finance Department under Municipal Code § 16-70.39.5. Registration is completed on the city's website, expires after one year, and must be renewed annually or draw a $500 fine.
All persons, businesses, groups or organizations who own or operate a short-term rental on any premises within the City of Owensboro shall register with the City of Owensboro Finance Department by completing a short-term rental registration form available on the city's website at www.Owensboro.org. A registration shall expire one (1) year from the date it is issued and shall be renewed annually. A fine of not more than five hundred dollars ($500.00) will be imposed on those failing to timely register within sixty (60) days with the City of Owensboro Finance Department.
Full Breakdown
Section 16-70.39.5, added by Ordinance 19-2024 on December 17, 2024, requires anyone who owns or operates a short-term rental on any premises within the City of Owensboro to register that rental with the City of Owensboro Finance Department. The registration is completed using a short-term rental registration form posted on the city's website at www.Owensboro.org. Once issued, a registration is valid for exactly one year from its issue date and must be renewed annually to stay current; it does not carry over automatically. An owner or operator who fails to register within 60 days faces a fine of not more than $500 from the Finance Department.
Registration sits alongside, but is separate from, the division's transient room tax obligations: the same host or broker must also file the monthly tax report required by § 16-70.39, remit the 3 percent city tax and 1 percent Convention Center tax under § 16-70.35, and keep detailed rental records under § 16-70.40 that the city can audit. Compliance with the whole short-term rental division, including registration, was required by March 1, 2025 under § 16-70.41, and any continuing violation is a misdemeanor punishable by up to $500 or 30 days in jail, with each unregistered or unreported month treated as a separate offense.
Violations & Fines
An owner or operator who does not register a short-term rental within 60 days faces a fine of up to $500 under § 16-70.39.5. Because registration is part of the broader transient room tax division, continued noncompliance can also be charged as a misdemeanor under § 16-70.41, punishable by up to $500 or 30 days in jail, with each month treated separately.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Owensboro require a permit for Airbnb or VRBO rentals?
How often does an Owensboro short-term rental registration need renewal?
What is the fine for not registering a short-term rental in Owensboro?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Owensboro
How Owensboro compares: Most Airbnb-Friendly Cities in America·Compare Owensboro 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.