Short-Term Rental Regulations
in Covington, KY

Airbnb listings are allowed in Covington, KY, but with restrictions. Short-term rentals (<30 days) are permitted with separate licenses for each unit; host-occupied and non-host-occupied categories apply. Non-host-occupied units are subject to citywide and neighborhood/historic-district density caps (citywide cap of 150 non-host-occupied licenses; limits per block face and per neighborhood) and no more than two short-term rental licenses per structure; applications must include occupancy/bedroom counts, parking, and evidence of notice to adjacent property owners. Inspections required and licenses are renewable annually. 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 (<30 days) are permitted with separate licenses for each unit; host-occupied and non-host-occupied categories apply. Non-host-occupied units are subject to citywide and neighborhood/historic-district density caps (citywide cap of 150 non-host-occupied licenses; limits per block face and per neighborhood) and no more than two short-term rental licenses per structure; applications must include occupancy/bedroom counts, parking, and evidence of notice to adjacent property owners. Inspections required and licenses are renewable annually.

Yes, a permit is required to operate a short-term rental in Covington. 1) Submit a Short-Term Rental Dwelling License application to the City including required contents (unit address; owner and rental agent contact; number of bedrooms and maximum occupancy; parking; list of hosting platforms; documentary evidence of notice to all adjacent property owners; and for host-occupied units, a sworn affidavit plus two proofs of residency as listed). 2) Pay the required fee (initial license fee $500 effective June 1, 2024; renewal $250) and submit all documents; the application is reviewed and a City rental code inspector will inspect the property (inspection within ~20 days prior to issuance); license issued or denied within 30 days of a complete application. 3) License is non-transferable, expires one year after issuance and must be renewed annually; failures on inspection must be corrected prior to issuance.

1) Submit a Short-Term Rental Dwelling License application to the City including required contents (unit address; owner and rental agent contact; number of bedrooms and maximum occupancy; parking; list of hosting platforms; documentary evidence of notice to all adjacent property owners; and for host-occupied units, a sworn affidavit plus two proofs of residency as listed). 2) Pay the required fee (initial license fee $500 effective June 1, 2024; renewal $250) and submit all documents; the application is reviewed and a City rental code inspector will inspect the property (inspection within ~20 days prior to issuance); license issued or denied within 30 days of a complete application. 3) License is non-transferable, expires one year after issuance and must be renewed annually; failures on inspection must be corrected prior to issuance.

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