STR Rule Watch

Short-Term Rental Laws in Columbus, OH (2026)

Permit requiredAllowed with permit

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.

✓ Last verified July 21, 2026 · 8 official sources

Reviewed by the STR Rule Watch research team against 8 official sources. How we verify data

Columbus STR rules at a glance

Key short-term rental facts for Columbus
Legal statusAllowed with permit
Permit requiredYes
Permit nameShort-Term Rental Permit
Permit fee$75
RenewalAnnual
Owner occupancy requiredNo
Primary residence onlyNo
Total occupancy taxes~5.1% of gross revenue
InsuranceNot required by the city. The June 2024 city FAQ states the city does not require proof of insurance to obtain a short-term rental permit (the $300,000 liability insurance mandate in the original 2019 ordinance was removed by Ordinance 1959-2021).
EnforcementAdministered by the License Section of the Department of Building and Zoning Services. Permit numbers must be listed on every hosting-platform listing and displayed inside the unit; platforms may not take bookings for units without a valid permit number. Police, fire, code enforcement, and public health employees may inspect STRs (with administrative search warrants available if refused). Permits can be denied, suspended, or revoked for code violations, high calls-for-service, gang activity, or violent-offense history, with appeal to the Board of Licensing Appeals. Residents report problem STRs via 311 and ShortTermRentals@columbus.gov.
Current rules effective2019-01-01

What will guests pay in taxes on a Columbus stay?

Itemized occupancy taxes for Columbus, OH — enter your nightly rate to see the real cost breakdown.

Columbus occupancy tax calculator

Gross rent$450.00
City of Columbus lodging excise tax on short-term rentals (5.1%)· host remits$22.95
Total tax (5.1%)$22.95
Guest pays$472.95

Estimate only. Platform collection varies by listing site and agreement; verify rates with the taxing authorities.

Permits & licensing

Columbus requires Short-Term Rental Permit to operate a short-term rental — the fee is $75, renewed annual.

$75.00/year for a primary residence; $150.00/year for a non-primary residence; plus an initial $20 application fee and a $32-per-individual BCI fingerprint background check (required for the applicant, host, 24-hour emergency contact, and property manager at application and each renewal). A Letter of Good Standing from the Columbus Division of Taxation is also required at application.

Zoning & location rules

No STR-specific zoning districts or overlays: short-term rentals are licensed citywide in any dwelling, but only dwellings with five (5) or fewer guestrooms qualify (larger operations are regulated as hotels/motels). The city instructs applicants to confirm their zoning location on the official Zoning Map before applying, and hosts must comply with the general Zoning Code (Title 33), Housing Code (Title 45, including Ch. 4541 sleeping-area occupancy limits), Building Code, and Fire Prevention Code. If the host is a tenant or the property is under a lease/management agreement, the owner's written consent to STR use is required.

Taxes

TaxRateWho collects
City of Columbus lodging excise tax on short-term rentalsAdministered by the Columbus Division of Income Tax under City Code Chapter 371. Hosts must open a business tax account, collect the tax, and file/remit monthly by the 20th for the previous month. Airbnb's Ohio tax-collection list does not include Columbus, so hosts remit this tax themselves. Rentals of 30+ consecutive days by the same guest are exempt.5.1%host

Enforcement & penalties

Administered by the License Section of the Department of Building and Zoning Services. Permit numbers must be listed on every hosting-platform listing and displayed inside the unit; platforms may not take bookings for units without a valid permit number. Police, fire, code enforcement, and public health employees may inspect STRs (with administrative search warrants available if refused). Permits can be denied, suspended, or revoked for code violations, high calls-for-service, gang activity, or violent-offense history, with appeal to the Board of Licensing Appeals. Residents report problem STRs via 311 and ShortTermRentals@columbus.gov.

Operating or advertising an STR without a valid permit (C.C.C. 598.02(A)(2)/598.04(F)) is an unclassified misdemeanor with a fine of up to $250; repeat offenses are third-degree misdemeanors (up to $500 fine and/or 60 days jail under Ohio law). All gross revenue from unpermitted rentals must be forfeited to the city. Each listing/dwelling constitutes a separate offense, and these are strict-liability offenses.

⚠️ HOA/condo rules may prohibit STRs regardless of city law.

Getting legal in Columbus: the playbook

Generated from this market's verified rules — each step traces to the sources at the bottom of this page.

  1. 1

    Verify your zoning

    Location rules apply: No STR-specific zoning districts or overlays: short-term rentals are licensed citywide in any dwelling, but only dwellings with five (5) or fewer guestrooms qualify (larger operations are regulated as hotels/motels). The city instructs applicants to confirm their zoning location on the official Zoning Map before applying, and hosts must comply with the general Zoning Code (Title 33), Housing Code (Title 45, including Ch. 4541 sleeping-area occupancy limits), Building Code, and Fire Prevention Code. If the host is a tenant or the property is under a lease/management agreement, the owner's written consent to STR use is required. Confirm your parcel's zoning with the city before applying.

  2. 2

    Check the covenant layer

    HOA/condo rules may prohibit STRs regardless of city law.

  3. 3

    Apply for the Short-Term Rental Permit

    Budget $75 (annual renewal). $75.00/year for a primary residence; $150.00/year for a non-primary residence; plus an initial $20 application fee and a $32-per-individual BCI fingerprint background check (required for the applicant, host, 24-hour emergency contact, and property manager at application and each renewal). A Letter of Good Standing from the Columbus Division of Taxation is also required at application. Apply through the city — the official application page is linked in the sources below.

  4. 4

    Line up required insurance

    Not required by the city. The June 2024 city FAQ states the city does not require proof of insurance to obtain a short-term rental permit (the $300,000 liability insurance mandate in the original 2019 ordinance was removed by Ordinance 1959-2021).

  5. 5

    Set up tax collection & remittance

    Platforms don't collect everything here: City of Columbus lodging excise tax on short-term rentals (5.1%) is remitted by the host. Register with the taxing authority before your first booking and calendar the filing deadlines.

  6. 6

    Calendar the renewal before you forget it

    This permit renews annual (budget $75 again). Most cities take weeks to process renewals and don't send reminders — our Host plan emails you at 60/30/7 days out.

  7. 7

    Know the cost of getting it wrong

    Operating or advertising an STR without a valid permit (C.C.C. 598.02(A)(2)/598.04(F)) is an unclassified misdemeanor with a fine of up to $250; repeat offenses are third-degree misdemeanors (up to $500 fine and/or 60 days jail under Ohio law). All gross revenue from unpermitted rentals must be forfeited to the city. Each listing/dwelling constitutes a separate offense, and these are strict-liability offenses. Administered by the License Section of the Department of Building and Zoning Services. Permit numbers must be listed on every hosting-platform listing and displayed inside the unit; platforms may not take bookings for units without a valid permit number. Police, fire, code enforcement, and public health employees may inspect STRs (with administrative search warrants available if refused). Permits can be denied, suspended, or revoked for code violations, high calls-for-service, gang activity, or violent-offense history, with appeal to the Board of Licensing Appeals. Residents report problem STRs via 311 and ShortTermRentals@columbus.gov.

Recent rule changes in Columbus

  1. April 29, 2025

    Ohio H.B. 161 (pending) would extend lodging and sales taxes to STRs with platform collection

    H.B. 161 (136th General Assembly, introduced 2025) would require all Ohio lodging taxes and state/county sales taxes to apply to short-term rentals with four or fewer rooms and require platforms like Airbnb/Vrbo to collect and remit. As of March 2026 the bill had its third House committee hearing and has not passed. If enacted, it would change Columbus STR tax collection mechanics (currently host-remitted).

    Official source →

  2. June 28, 2024

    City refreshed STR application and FAQ under Department of Building and Zoning Services

    Columbus issued a revised Short-Term Rental application (April 8, 2024) and revised FAQs (June 28, 2024). Administration of STR permits now sits with the License Section of the Department of Building and Zoning Services (previously Public Safety). The FAQ confirms current fees ($20 application, $75/yr primary, $150/yr non-primary, $32 BCI check), the 5.1% lodging excise tax, and that the city does not require proof of insurance.

    Official source →

Frequently asked questions

›Is Airbnb legal in Columbus?

Yes — Airbnb and other short-term rentals are legal in Columbus, OH, but you must obtain a Short-Term Rental Permit before operating. Always confirm current requirements with the city before operating.

›Do I need a permit for a short-term rental in Columbus?

Yes. Columbus requires a Short-Term Rental Permit to operate a short-term rental, which costs $75 and must be renewed every year. Always confirm current requirements with the city before operating.

›How much does a Columbus short-term rental permit cost?

The Short-Term Rental Permit costs $75 (annual renewal). $75.00/year for a primary residence; $150.00/year for a non-primary residence; plus an initial $20 application fee and a $32-per-individual BCI fingerprint background check (required for the applicant, host, 24-hour emergency contact, and property manager at application and each renewal). A Letter of Good Standing from the Columbus Division of Taxation is also required at application.

›Can I Airbnb a non-primary residence in Columbus?

Yes — Columbus does not limit short-term rentals to primary residences. Zoning and other restrictions may still apply. Always confirm current requirements with the city before operating.

›What taxes do short-term rental hosts pay in Columbus?

Hosts in Columbus are subject to: City of Columbus lodging excise tax on short-term rentals (5.1%) — roughly 5.1% total on gross rental revenue. Platforms like Airbnb collect some of these automatically; check each line's collection method on this page.

›Do I need insurance to run a short-term rental in Columbus?

Not required by the city. The June 2024 city FAQ states the city does not require proof of insurance to obtain a short-term rental permit (the $300,000 liability insurance mandate in the original 2019 ordinance was removed by Ordinance 1959-2021). Always confirm current requirements with the city before operating.

›Does Airbnb collect taxes automatically in Columbus?

No — in Columbus hosts are responsible for registering, collecting, and remitting the listed occupancy taxes themselves. Always confirm current requirements with the city before operating.

›What happens if I operate a short-term rental illegally in Columbus?

Operating or advertising an STR without a valid permit (C.C.C. 598.02(A)(2)/598.04(F)) is an unclassified misdemeanor with a fine of up to $250; repeat offenses are third-degree misdemeanors (up to $500 fine and/or 60 days jail under Ohio law). All gross revenue from unpermitted rentals must be forfeited to the city. Each listing/dwelling constitutes a separate offense, and these are strict-liability offenses. Administered by the License Section of the Department of Building and Zoning Services. Permit numbers must be listed on every hosting-platform listing and displayed inside the unit; platforms may not take bookings for units without a valid permit number. Police, fire, code enforcement, and public health employees may inspect STRs (with administrative search warrants available if refused). Permits can be denied, suspended, or revoked for code violations, high calls-for-service, gang activity, or violent-offense history, with appeal to the Board of Licensing Appeals. Residents report problem STRs via 311 and ShortTermRentals@columbus.gov.

›When did Columbus's current short-term rental rules take effect?

The current ordinance took effect on January 1, 2019. See the change timeline on this page for amendments since, and the sources section for the official text.

Columbus's STR rules changed 1 time recently.

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

Watch Columbus for changes →

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This page is informational only and is not legal, tax, or financial advice. Rules change and enforcement varies — verify current requirements with Columbus and a qualified professional before operating.

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