Short-Term Rental Regulations
in Mercer County, OH

Airbnb listings are allowed in Mercer County, OH, but with restrictions. Mercer County regulates 'Bed & Breakfast/Tourist Home' uses as conditional: owner-occupied units are limited in guest rooms; requirements include site/floor plans, a guest register, one off-street parking space per guestroom, no kitchens in guestrooms, and a prohibition on event rentals in R-1/R-2/R-3 zones. 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.

Mercer County regulates 'Bed & Breakfast/Tourist Home' uses as conditional: owner-occupied units are limited in guest rooms; requirements include site/floor plans, a guest register, one off-street parking space per guestroom, no kitchens in guestrooms, and a prohibition on event rentals in R-1/R-2/R-3 zones.

Yes, a permit is required to operate a short-term rental in Mercer County. 1) Apply for a Conditional Use Permit per Mercer County Zoning Code (Chapter 1131) with the County Zoning Inspector, including a site plan and floor plan. 2) Submit plans to the Fire Chief for review and to the Mercer County Health Department; a Zoning Permit will only be issued after a successful Fire Chief inspection. 3) Comply with any additional conditions imposed by the Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA).

1) Apply for a Conditional Use Permit per Mercer County Zoning Code (Chapter 1131) with the County Zoning Inspector, including a site plan and floor plan. 2) Submit plans to the Fire Chief for review and to the Mercer County Health Department; a Zoning Permit will only be issued after a successful Fire Chief inspection. 3) Comply with any additional conditions imposed by the Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA).

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