Lexington, KY Short-Term Rentals: Repeat Violator Strikes (2026)

' The underlying refusal circumstances include a false statement on an application, unpaid fees, fines or penalties tied to a violation, an unsatisfied lien on the property, loss of a required conditional use permit, or noncompliance with any applicable zoning, building, safety, health, sanitation, fire, electrical, plumbing or mechanical code. Once revoked for repeat violations, 'a licensee whose special fees license is revoked is not eligible to apply for another short-term rental special fees license for the dwelling unit in which the license was revoked for a period of one (1) year': the bar runs with the unit, so a new owner of the same dwelling inherits it.

The Director may 'revoke, suspend, or refuse to renew or issue a license on a dwelling unit basis,' so an owner of several STRs can lose one property's license while keeping the others active. Revocation is appealable: § 13-82 requires the Director to send a show-cause letter, the licensee has ten days to respond with evidence, and if a dispute remains the Commissioner of Finance holds a hearing within thirty days and issues a final decision. Enforcement runs through citation officers in the Division of Revenue under § 13-81, whose escalating civil fines apply separately from any revocation.