Short-Term Rental Regulations
in Kenton County, KY

Airbnb listings are allowed in Kenton County, KY, but with restrictions. County and municipal rules restrict STRs: Covington adopts Chapter 127 requiring licensed short-term rentals with ownership, density, hosting-agent, operating, inspection, and renewal requirements; unincorporated Kenton County zoning language permits STRs in the primary structure and one accessory dwelling unit with owner-occupied (host) conditions. Key constraints include licensing, inspections prior to issuance and at renewal, ownership/density limits, and required local agent/24-hour contact. 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 and municipal rules restrict STRs: Covington adopts Chapter 127 requiring licensed short-term rentals with ownership, density, hosting-agent, operating, inspection, and renewal requirements; unincorporated Kenton County zoning language permits STRs in the primary structure and one accessory dwelling unit with owner-occupied (host) conditions. Key constraints include licensing, inspections prior to issuance and at renewal, ownership/density limits, and required local agent/24-hour contact.

Yes, a permit is required to operate a short-term rental in Kenton County. 1) Submit a short-term rental license/registration application to the city’s Code Enforcement/Business Licensing division (Covington’s Chapter 127 specifies application contents and licensing). 2) Undergo inspection by the Chief Building Inspector prior to issuance and pay applicable license fees; 3) Renew the short-term rental license annually (renewal deadline referenced in regional guidance).

1) Submit a short-term rental license/registration application to the city’s Code Enforcement/Business Licensing division (Covington’s Chapter 127 specifies application contents and licensing). 2) Undergo inspection by the Chief Building Inspector prior to issuance and pay applicable license fees; 3) Renew the short-term rental license annually (renewal deadline referenced in regional guidance).

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