Short-Term Rental Regulations
in Nelson County, KY

Airbnb listings are allowed in Nelson County, KY, but with restrictions. STRs are treated as short-term rentals and B&Bs; they are allowed with restrictions—require Conditional Use Permit (CUP) in agricultural and residential zoning districts; Type 1 (owner-occupied principal residence) and Type 2 (non-owner-occupied in approved detached accessory unit where owner lives on property) definitions apply; maximum stay 30 consecutive days; maximum occupancy = 2x number of bedrooms rented; off-street parking required; responsible local contact required for some types; must comply with building, fire, and health codes and pay transient room tax. 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.

STRs are treated as short-term rentals and B&Bs; they are allowed with restrictions—require Conditional Use Permit (CUP) in agricultural and residential zoning districts; Type 1 (owner-occupied principal residence) and Type 2 (non-owner-occupied in approved detached accessory unit where owner lives on property) definitions apply; maximum stay 30 consecutive days; maximum occupancy = 2x number of bedrooms rented; off-street parking required; responsible local contact required for some types; must comply with building, fire, and health codes and pay transient room tax.

Yes, a permit is required to operate a short-term rental in Nelson County. 1) Apply for a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) through the Joint City-County Planning Commission/Board of Adjustment for properties in agricultural/residential districts; 2) If CUP approved, obtain Zoning Compliance Permit/change-of-use and any required building, fire, or health permits/inspections and business/occupational license; 3) Pay applicable transient room tax and comply with posted responsible-party contact requirements.

1) Apply for a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) through the Joint City-County Planning Commission/Board of Adjustment for properties in agricultural/residential districts; 2) If CUP approved, obtain Zoning Compliance Permit/change-of-use and any required building, fire, or health permits/inspections and business/occupational license; 3) Pay applicable transient room tax and comply with posted responsible-party contact requirements.

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