City Watch
Short-term rental rules in Cincinnati, OH
How Cincinnati regulates short-term rentals: the rules that apply, their sources, and pending changes.
Short-term rentals here operate under a registration or permit system with ongoing operating rules.
- Mandatory per-unit STR registration before operation (CMC Ch. 856), $250 fee, 3-year term
- 7% short-term rental excise tax on gross earnings (CMC Ch. 315)
- Local 'responsible person' required within 50 miles (contact rule, not host-present)
- Per-building STR cap only in buildings of 5+ units; 1-4 unit buildings uncapped
- No owner-occupancy / primary-residence requirement; whole-home and absentee STR permitted
Based on: CMC Ch. 856 (Short Term Rentals, registration) + CMC Ch. 315 (Short Term Rental Excise Tax); Ord. 125-2019, effective
Summary of the rule
Each STR unit is required to be registered with the City. An application must be approved by the City prior to operation of any STR unit. Cost $250.00. An approved registration is valid for 3 years.
View the ordinance source ↗✓ Verified
Last reviewed Sep 14, 2026 · Sources · Report an error
Pending legislation
Monitoring Cincinnati · system last checked Oct 25, 2026
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City Watch tracks changes from public sources — council agendas, state bills, local news — not a complete legal compendium.
A city permit is not the whole picture — HOA, condominium, deed, or lease rules may be stricter.
City Watch provides good-faith summaries of publicly available information as of the review date shown. Rules, enforcement, and permit availability can change, and summaries may contain errors or omissions. Ratings describe the general regulatory environment; they do not establish whether a particular property or stay is permitted. This is general information, not legal advice. Before buying, listing, or hosting, verify applicable requirements with the responsible authorities and review any HOA, condominium, deed, or lease restrictions.