Short Term Rentals

Short Term Rentals



Short Term Rentals (STR)
in Boone County (Unincorporated)

The Boone County Fiscal Court has adopted zoning regulations and administrative processes to allow short term rentals in unincorporated Boone County. A short term rental is a dwelling unit that is rented, leased or otherwise assigned for a tenancy of less than 30 consecutive days. In order to operate a short term rental, a property owner must meet all required zoning regulations and administrative requirements approved by ordinance. 

Where is a Short Term Rental permitted by zoning?

  • Principally permitted use. In zoning districts that allow a short term rental as a "principally permitted use,' a short rental may occur once a Short Term Rental Permit is obtained from Boone County. No additional zoning steps are required. In unincorporated Boone County, a short term rental is a principally permitted use in the following zoning districts: Agriculture (A-1), Recreation (R), Employment Planned Development District (EPD), Residential Planned Development District (RPD), Small Community Overlay District (SC).
  • Conditional Use.  Many zoning districts permit short term rentals, but only as a conditional use which must be approved by the Boone County Board of Adjustments prior to being permitted to operate. In these zones, an application must be made to the Boone County Board of Adjustments who will hold a hearing and make a determination as to whether the short term rental may operate and any conditions it must meet to do so. Short term rentals are conditional uses in the following zones: Agricultural Estate ( A-2), Conservation (CONS), Rural Suburban Estates (RSE), Rural Suburban (RS), Suburban Residential One (SR-1), Suburban Residential Two (SR-2), Suburban Residential Three (SR-3), Urban Residential One (UR-1), Urban Residential Two (UR-2), Urban Residential Three (UR-3), Union Commercial (UC). 
  • Supplemental Performance Standards - For all zoning districts, each short term rental must comply must zoning requirements as listed in Article 31 Supplemental Performance Standards of the Boone County Zoning Code.  

Short Term Rental Ordinance Requirements and STR Permits
All Short Term Rentals operating in unincorporated Boone County must comply with the requirements of the County STR Ordinance and obtain a Short Term Rental Permit issued from the Boone County Occupational License Office.  The STR Ordinance is linked from this page for your convenience. Some important requirements include: 

  • Each STR units is required to have a valid STR Permit issued from the Boone County Occupational License Office.
  • The STR Permit is granted to the applicant and is not transferable. 
  • A zoning permit is required to be obtained from the Boone County Planning Commission. 
  • A conditional use permit is required to be obtained from the Boone County Board of Adjustments for any property in a zoning district where STR is a conditional use. A STR permit will not be issued by the County until a conditional use permit is obtained (where required).
  •  Each Short Term Rental property shall have working smoke detectors in accordance with adopted codes and at least one working carbon monoxide detector and alarm, and one working fire extinguisher. The premises shall otherwise comply with applicable county ordinances.
  • Applicant shall provide with the application a certificate of insurance or other valid proof of general liability insurance in an amount not less than one million dollars ($1,000,000.00) per occurrence which shall remain in effect at all times while engaged in the permitted activity.
  • No more than two (2) adult guests per bedroom are permitted, plus no more than two (2) additional adults shall be allowed when renting a property as a Short Term Rental, except that there shall be a maximum occupancy of no more than ten (10) persons, adult and children and bedrooms under 120 square feet shall be limited to only one adult occupant.
  • Each Short Term Rental property must designate an emergency contact available to be on-site within one hour of call for service.
  • A minimum of one (1) parking space shall be provided per guest room or suite. All parking for a short term rental, shall be provided off-street on a paved surface and inconformity with all applicable zoning regulations.
  • The property on which the Short Term Rental is to be located shall not be closer than one thousand (1,000) feet, measured in a straight line from the nearest property line to the nearest property line on another approved short term rental.
  • Any advertisement of the property as a Short Term Rental and all rental contracts must contain language that specifies the allowed maximum number of occupants and maximum number of vehicles.
  • There shall be no external on-site or off-site advertising signs or displays indicating the property is a Short Term Rental.
  • An information brochure must be provided to guests with all information required by Ordinance. 
  • Short Term Rentals shall not be allowed on any area not considered a primary dwelling, i.e. recreational vehicles, tents, garages, boats, etc.

Short Term Rental Permit Process
The following steps should be followed to obtain a STR Permit:

  1. Submit a STR Permit Application to the Boone County Occupational License Office
  2. Applications will be processed in order they are received
  3. Applications must include:
    • Application fee ($300 new permit/ $200 renewal). The application fee is refundable if the applicant is unable to obtain a conditional use permit and/or a permit is not able to be approved. The fee will be pro-rated by month from January 1 to first day of month obtained. 
    • Self-Safety Inspection Form indicating all proper safety devices are in place and in good working order. (Form available on this page)
    • Site Plan/Survey of the property indicating maximum number of vehicles that can be legally parked on the property, without encroaching onto street, sidewalks or alleys; other public rights-of-way or public property
    • Applicant shall provide with the application a certificate of insurance or other valid proof of general liability insurance in an amount not less than one million dollars ($1,000,000.00) per occurrence which shall remain in effect at all times while engaged in the permitted activity.
    • A submission of a sketch floor plan of the dwelling with dimensioned room layout.
    • Copy of facility information brochure which includes, at a minimum: 1. Owner’s twenty-four 24 hour contact information and/or a local responsible party's
      twenty-four (24) hour contact information, if the property owner is not within the county limits when guests are renting the premises; 2. Pertinent neighborhood information including, but not limited to, parking restrictions, restrictions on noise and amplified sound, and trash collection schedules; 3. Information to assist guests in the case of emergencies posing threats to personal safety or damage to property, including emergency and non-emergency telephone numbers for police,
      fire, and emergency medical services providers and instructions for obtaining severe weather, natural, or man-made disaster alerts and updates. 4. Policy regarding pet(s).
    • Statement  attesting to compliance with all aspects of applicable provisions of the International Building Code with Kentucky Amendments (adopted edition), NFPA 1124 (National Fire Protection Association, currently adopted edition), and all other applicable state, federal, or local laws or regulations
  4. Applicant must obtain a Conditional Use Permit from the Boone County Board of Adjustments. The application and priority position will be held for ninety (90) calendar days from date of submission of application. (If a conditional use permit is not required for the requested zoning district, proceed to step 5)
  5. Obtain a Boone County Occupational License
  6. STR Permit Issued by Occupational License Office
  7. STR Permits must be renewed annually by January 1. Renewals may be made beginning sixty days prior to December 31.  

Violations of County Short Term Rental Ordinance 


  It is unlawful:

  1. To operate or allow to be operated a Short Term Rental without first obtaining a Short Term Rental Permit for the property in which the rental is to occur with the unincorporated limits of the county in accordance with this Ordinance and a Boone County Occupational License;
  2. To advertise or offer a Short Term Rental without first obtaining a Short Term Rental Permit and Boone County Business License;
  3. To operate a Short Term Rental that does not comply with all applicable County and state laws and codes;
  4. To operate a Short Term Rental without paying the required hotel occupancy taxes;
  5. To fail to include a written prohibition against the use of a Short Term Rental for having activity on the premises that includes individuals who are not guests as part of the rental agreement in every advertisement, listing, or other publication offering

  Civil Fine
-Any person, persons, corporation or partnership who violate the provisions of this chapter shall be fined $200 per instance. Any person, persons, corporation or partnership who violate the provisions of this chapter more than once in a 365 day period shall be fined $500 for each subsequent violation within a 365 day period.
135968

population

4 th

largest county

1798

founded

42 mi

of riverfront