Short-Term Rental Regulations
in Washington County, KY

Airbnb listings are allowed in Washington County, KY, but with restrictions. Short-term rentals are regulated as lodging uses requiring a Conditional Use Permit from the Board of Zoning Adjustments. Operators must obtain a County Health Officer's Certificate for water and sewage facilities and file approved permits with the County Court Clerk. 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 are regulated as lodging uses requiring a Conditional Use Permit from the Board of Zoning Adjustments. Operators must obtain a County Health Officer's Certificate for water and sewage facilities and file approved permits with the County Court Clerk.

Yes, a permit is required to operate a short-term rental in Washington County. 1. Submit a conditional use permit application to the Enforcement Officer along with a County Health Officer's Certificate for water/sewage. 2. Attend a review by the Board of Zoning Adjustment and pay the required permit fee upon approval. 3. File the approved permit with the Washington County Court Clerk.

1. Submit a conditional use permit application to the Enforcement Officer along with a County Health Officer's Certificate for water/sewage. 2. Attend a review by the Board of Zoning Adjustment and pay the required permit fee upon approval. 3. File the approved permit with the Washington County Court Clerk.

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