Louisville, KY Short-Term Rentals: Repeat Violator Strikes (2026)
Key Facts
- Strike threshold
- 2 substantiated violations/12 months
- Enforcing agency
- Planning Director, Develop Louisville
- Appeal window
- 30 days to Board of Zoning Adjustment
- Post-revocation ban
- 1 calendar year ineligible
Summary
Louisville Metro revokes a short-term rental registration after two substantiated violations or complaints on the same property within 12 months.
An active registration shall be revoked by the Planning Director if the property is subject to two or more substantiated civil and/or criminal complaints or the Host is found to have twice violated or failed to comply with any applicable provision of §§ 115.515 through 115.521 with respect to a given property within a 12 month period. When the Planning Director revokes a registration under this section, the owner and Host shall be notified of the revocation and shall have 30 days in which to request an appeal before the Board of Zoning Adjustment. If no appeal is requested, the revocation shall become final on the thirty-first day after the initial action by the Director. Civil complaints include, but are not limited to, reported violations of building, safety, property maintenance, nuisance, health and sanitation, fire, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical codes. Criminal complaints include, but are not limited to, reported drug activity, theft and criminal mischief.
(E) When any owner or Host has a short term rental registration revoked, they shall be ineligible to receive any new short term rental registrations for a period of one calendar year. (Lou. Metro Ord. No. 217-2015, approved 1-5-2016, effective 8-1-2016; Lou. Metro Am. Ord. No. 70-2016, approved 5-27-2016; Lou. Metro Am. Ord. No. 56- 2019, approved 5-8-2019; Lou. Metro Am. Ord. No. 130-2023, approved 9-28- 2023) Penalty, see § 115.999
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
Under Louisville Metro Code § 115.516(D)(2), the Planning Director must revoke an active short-term rental registration once a property draws two or more substantiated civil or criminal complaints, or the Host is found to have twice violated any short-term rental provision (§§ 115.515–115.521) on that property within a 12-month period. A first violation already blocks new registrations: § 115.516(D)(1) bars issuing a new registration for a property that received a citation in the prior 12 months. Owners and Hosts get 30 days to appeal a revocation to the Board of Zoning Adjustment before it becomes final.
Violations & Fines
Two substantiated complaints or two violations on one property within 12 months triggers mandatory revocation by the Planning Director; a prior-year citation also blocks a new registration outright.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many strikes before Louisville revokes a short-term rental registration?
Can a revoked host reapply right away?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Louisville
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