Short-Term Rental Regulations
in Franklin County, IN

Airbnb listings are allowed in Franklin County, IN, but with restrictions. County zoning code treats short-term lodging ('tourist home', 'boarding house', 'lodging house', 'bed and breakfast') as defined land uses; small operations (3 or fewer rental units) are explicitly 'Allowed Without Permit' in specified zones, while larger operations (4+ units) require review/hearing (conditional/class 3) and must meet building, health, and zoning standards; Certificates of Occupancy and Improvement Location Permits apply for changes of use. A permit is required before you can host. These rules apply to all short-term rental platforms (Airbnb, Vrbo, Booking.com, etc.) — not just Airbnb specifically. See the official source linked on this page for full requirements. Last verified 2026-05-14.

County zoning code treats short-term lodging ('tourist home', 'boarding house', 'lodging house', 'bed and breakfast') as defined land uses; small operations (3 or fewer rental units) are explicitly 'Allowed Without Permit' in specified zones, while larger operations (4+ units) require review/hearing (conditional/class 3) and must meet building, health, and zoning standards; Certificates of Occupancy and Improvement Location Permits apply for changes of use.

Yes, a permit is required to operate a short-term rental in Franklin County. 1) Determine classification: if operation is 3 or fewer rental units it is Class I (allowed without permit), if 4+ units it is Class 3 (requires APC/BZA hearing). 2) For any change of use or improvements submit an Improvement Location Permit and application for a Certificate of Occupancy to the Franklin County Area Plan Commission (apply coincidentally); pay stated fees (Improvement Location Permit $30; Change of Use $50; Conditional Use $300; Variance $300). 3) If Class 3/conditional use, submit application for hearing to APC/BZA on required timeline; obtain inspections and Certificate of Occupancy when work is complete.

1) Determine classification: if operation is 3 or fewer rental units it is Class I (allowed without permit), if 4+ units it is Class 3 (requires APC/BZA hearing). 2) For any change of use or improvements submit an Improvement Location Permit and application for a Certificate of Occupancy to the Franklin County Area Plan Commission (apply coincidentally); pay stated fees (Improvement Location Permit $30; Change of Use $50; Conditional Use $300; Variance $300). 3) If Class 3/conditional use, submit application for hearing to APC/BZA on required timeline; obtain inspections and Certificate of Occupancy when work is complete.

Vrbo is permitted in Franklin County, IN under the same restrictions that apply to Airbnb — local rules govern the rental itself, not the specific platform. You must hold a valid permit before hosting on Vrbo. Last verified 2026-05-14.

Short-term rental hosts in Franklin County are typically responsible for lodging, occupancy, and applicable sales taxes — these usually apply even where hosting is allowed without a permit. Rates and remittance rules vary by jurisdiction (state, county, and city can each levy a share); confirm the current rates with the official source linked on this page. Platforms such as Airbnb and Vrbo collect some taxes automatically, but the host remains liable for any not collected on their behalf.

We are not currently tracking any recent short-term rental ordinance changes for Franklin County. STR rules change frequently — verify the current requirements with the city or county before listing, using the official source linked on this page.