Short-Term Rental Regulations
in Lake County, IN

Airbnb listings are allowed in Lake County, IN, but with restrictions. Short-term rentals (STRs) are defined as rentals of less than 30 days. Owner-occupied STRs (primary residences) are permitted by-right in zones A-1, RR, R-1, R-2, R-3, and R-5, while non-owner-occupied STRs require a special exception approval from the Board of Zoning Appeals. 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.

Short-term rentals (STRs) are defined as rentals of less than 30 days. Owner-occupied STRs (primary residences) are permitted by-right in zones A-1, RR, R-1, R-2, R-3, and R-5, while non-owner-occupied STRs require a special exception approval from the Board of Zoning Appeals.

Yes, a permit is required to operate a short-term rental in Lake County. 1) File a special exception application with the Plan Commission Director and pay the fee ($200 + $10/acre). 2) Notify property owners within 500 feet via mail 10-25 days before the study session. 3) Attend a Plan Commission study session for a recommendation and a Board of Zoning Appeals public hearing for the final decision.

1) File a special exception application with the Plan Commission Director and pay the fee ($200 + $10/acre). 2) Notify property owners within 500 feet via mail 10-25 days before the study session. 3) Attend a Plan Commission study session for a recommendation and a Board of Zoning Appeals public hearing for the final decision.

Vrbo is permitted in Lake 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 Lake 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 Lake County. STR rules change frequently — verify the current requirements with the city or county before listing, using the official source linked on this page.