Can I Airbnb in Columbus, OH? (2026)
Columbus allows short-term rentals citywide but every dwelling must have a city Short-Term Rental Permit (Columbus City Code Chapter 598) before it can be listed on Airbnb, Vrbo, or any hosting platform. Permits cost $75/year for a primary residence or $150/year for a non-primary residence (plus a $20 application fee and a $32 BCI background check), renew annually, and there is no owner-occupancy requirement, unit cap, or night cap. Hosts must open a Columbus tax account and remit the city's 5.1% lodging excise tax monthly themselves - Airbnb does not collect it.
What’s required: a Short-Term Rental Permit ($75) is required; occupancy taxes apply; renew annual.
Check a specific address
Rules can vary by zone and parcel. Resolve any Ohio street address to its jurisdiction and see the verified rules that apply.
Related
Verified July 21, 2026. Informational only — not legal, tax, or financial advice. Also check HOA/condo rules and your lease, which can prohibit short-term rentals even where the city allows them.