Short-Term Rental Regulations
in Barren County, KY

Airbnb listings are allowed in Barren County, KY, but with restrictions. STR is defined as a non-owner-occupied residence rented for 30 days or less. STRs are permitted as a Conditional Use in R-1, R-2, and R-3 zoning districts and permitted in B-1, B-2, B-3, and OP districts; they are prohibited in R-4, I-1, I-2, and Public districts. Limits include a maximum of two occupants per bedroom, only one advertised STR per dwelling, and a minimum spacing of 1,000 to 1,500 feet between units in residential districts. 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.

STR is defined as a non-owner-occupied residence rented for 30 days or less. STRs are permitted as a Conditional Use in R-1, R-2, and R-3 zoning districts and permitted in B-1, B-2, B-3, and OP districts; they are prohibited in R-4, I-1, I-2, and Public districts. Limits include a maximum of two occupants per bedroom, only one advertised STR per dwelling, and a minimum spacing of 1,000 to 1,500 feet between units in residential districts.

Yes, a permit is required to operate a short-term rental in Barren County. 1) Confirm zoning and apply for Conditional Use approval through the Joint City-County Planning Commission. 2) Obtain a local business/occupational license from the City of Glasgow License Fee Division by completing a Business Registration Form and paying the $50 fee. 3) Register for and file the 3% transient room tax and obtain required building and fire code inspections from the Building & Electrical Inspector.

1) Confirm zoning and apply for Conditional Use approval through the Joint City-County Planning Commission. 2) Obtain a local business/occupational license from the City of Glasgow License Fee Division by completing a Business Registration Form and paying the $50 fee. 3) Register for and file the 3% transient room tax and obtain required building and fire code inspections from the Building & Electrical Inspector.

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