City Watch
Short-term rental rules in Columbus, OH
How Columbus 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.
- Citywide short-term rental permit required before listing (Chapter 598)
- Fingerprint-based background check for applicant, host, 24-hr contact, and property manager
- No cap on permits per owner; no owner-occupancy/primary-residence requirement
- Whole-home STR permitted; permit-plus-vetting regime, not supply-limiting
Based on: Columbus City Code, Title 5, Chapter 598 (Hotel/Motel and Short-Term Rental Operations); STR program added by Ordinance
Summary of the rule
Whole-home STR permitted (all or a portion of a home for stays under 30 nights); no owner-occupancy requirement
View the ordinance source ↗✓ Verified
Last reviewed Sep 14, 2026 · Sources · Report an error
Pending legislation
Monitoring Columbus · system last checked Nov 10, 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.