Short-Term Rental Regulations
in Shelby County, KY

Airbnb listings are allowed in Shelby County, KY, but with restrictions. STRs are restricted to agricultural or residential zoning districts in Shelbyville and require a city permit, a business license, and $1,000,000 liability insurance. Hosts must also comply with county-level occupational licensing and pay a 3% local transient room tax and 1% conference center 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 restricted to agricultural or residential zoning districts in Shelbyville and require a city permit, a business license, and $1,000,000 liability insurance. Hosts must also comply with county-level occupational licensing and pay a 3% local transient room tax and 1% conference center tax.

Yes, a permit is required to operate a short-term rental in Shelby County. 1. Contact Triple S Planning and Zoning to determine if a Conditional Use Permit is required and schedule a fire inspection with the Shelbyville Fire Department. 2. Submit a completed application with a $500 initial fee ($250 renewal) and proof of $1M liability insurance to Triple S Planning and Zoning. 3. Set up a transient room tax account with the Shelby County Occupational Office and submit final paperwork to City Hall for issuance.

1. Contact Triple S Planning and Zoning to determine if a Conditional Use Permit is required and schedule a fire inspection with the Shelbyville Fire Department. 2. Submit a completed application with a $500 initial fee ($250 renewal) and proof of $1M liability insurance to Triple S Planning and Zoning. 3. Set up a transient room tax account with the Shelby County Occupational Office and submit final paperwork to City Hall for issuance.

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