Louisville, KY Short-Term Rentals: Primary-Residence-Only Rule (2026)
Key Facts
- Residency required
- primary residence in residential zones
- Minimum tenure before applying
- 6 months
- Approval path
- Planning Director, administrative
- Non-primary-residence route
- conditional use permit required
- Max guest stay
- 29 consecutive days
Summary
In Louisville Metro's residential zoning districts, a short-term rental must be the owner's primary residence unless a conditional use permit says otherwise.
In a R-R, R-E, R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, R-5, U-N, R-5A, R-5B, R-6, R-7 or R-8A district, a short term rental of dwelling unit that is the primary residence of the owner is permitted by the Planning Director with special standards set forth in this section... the short term rental shall be the owner's primary residence unless a conditional use permit allows otherwise. The owner shall have resided in the dwelling unit for at least six months prior to application.
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/Jefferson County Metro's Land Development Code makes short-term rental of a dwelling unit a permitted use in residential districts (R-R, R-E, R-1 through R-8A, U-N) only when it is the owner's primary residence, approved administratively by the Planning Director. The owner must have lived there at least six months before applying and must re-prove residency every year with a Kentucky driver's license plus a second document (voter card, tax return, or vehicle registration). Renting out a residential-zoned unit that is NOT the owner's primary residence instead requires a conditional use permit under LDC 4.2.63, a higher bar with hearings and separation-distance rules. Non-residential zones (OR-3, C-N, C-1/2/3, EZ-1, etc.) allow either type by right. This layer applies within Louisville Metro's own zoning jurisdiction; home rule cities inside Jefferson County such as St. Matthews or Jeffersontown are not bound by it.
Violations & Fines
Renting a non-primary-residence unit in a residential zone without a conditional use permit is a zoning violation; two or more substantiated civil or criminal complaints in 12 months triggers registration revocation by the Planning Director, appealable to the Board of Zoning Adjustment within 30 days.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I rent out a house in Louisville that isn't where I live?
How does Louisville verify I actually live there?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Louisville
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