Do you need a permit to run an Airbnb in Cincinnati?

Yes. Cincinnati requires Short Term Rental Registration, and the fee is $250. Cincinnati allows short-term rentals citywide, but every STR unit must be registered with the City ($250 per unit, valid for three years) before it can be operated, and operators owe a 7% city excise tax on gross STR revenue that funds the affordable housing trust fund. There is no owner-occupancy requirement, annual night cap, or minimum-stay rule; the main limits are per-building caps in buildings with five or more dwelling units and a prohibition on registering units that receive affordable-housing subsidies.

How much does a short-term rental permit cost in Cincinnati?

The Short Term Rental Registration fee in Cincinnati is $250. $250.00 per STR unit, paid at time of application; refundable only if the application is not approved. The renewal fee is also $250.00, due with the renewal application. A $100.00 reinstatement fee applies if a suspended registration is brought back into compliance. Registration is non-transferable and each unit in a multi-unit property must be registered separately.

How to get a short-term rental permit in Cincinnati, OH (2026)

Cincinnati requires Short Term Rental Registration — the fee is $250. Here's how to get and keep it.

Permit at a glance

Permit required	Yes
Permit name	Short Term Rental Registration
Permit fee	$250
Renewal	—

Step by step

1
Confirm your property is eligible
Confirm the property's zoning allows short-term rentals. There are no STR-specific zoning districts or overlay districts in Cincinnati — any residential dwelling unit citywide may be registered, provided the operator self-certifies compliance with existing building, zoning, housing, and fire codes (the city does not inspect at registration). Limits are per building rather than per zone: buildings with four or fewer dwelling units have no cap; buildings with five or more units may contain four STRs plus one additional STR for every four dwelling units beyond four (e.g., a 24-unit building allows 9 STR registrations), allocated first-applied, first-approved, with grandfathering for units already used as STRs before January 1, 2019. Dwelling units receiving federal, state, or local affordable-housing grants or credits may not be registered as STRs.
2
Apply for the Short Term Rental Registration
Submit the Short Term Rental Registration application to Cincinnati and pay the $250 fee. $250.00 per STR unit, paid at time of application; refundable only if the application is not approved. The renewal fee is also $250.00, due with the renewal application. A $100.00 reinstatement fee applies if a suspended registration is brought back into compliance. Registration is non-transferable and each unit in a multi-unit property must be registered separately.
3
Register for occupancy taxes
Register to collect and remit the applicable lodging/occupancy taxes for Cincinnati. Some are collected automatically by the booking platform and some you may need to remit yourself.

STR rules change without warning.

Get an email the moment Cincinnati changes its short-term rental rules — plus renewal reminders before your permit expires.

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Verified July 21, 2026. Informational only — not legal, tax, or financial advice. Permit requirements and fees change; confirm current requirements with Cincinnati before applying.

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