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Louisville Metro regulates short-term rentals (STRs) — anything rented for less than 30 consecutive days, which covers Airbnb and VRBO — through a permit system that depends on your zoning, whether you live in the property, and even which neighborhood you're in. Answer three questions above to see which path applies to your property.

How Louisville Metro's STR rules actually work

There are two approval pathways. Owner-occupied properties in standard residential or office-residential zoning can get an administrative registration — no public hearing, a $250 application fee, and proof you've actually lived there (generally at least 6 months). Non-owner-occupied properties in the same zoning need a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) on top of the annual registration — a discretionary approval that goes through a public hearing at the Board of Zoning Adjustment or Planning Commission.

The Old Louisville and Limerick exception

These two neighborhoods are carved out from the owner-occupied shortcut: every STR there needs a Conditional Use Permit and annual registration, even if you live in the property full-time.

Conditional Use Permit costs and timeline

A CUP starts with a $200 pre-application fee, then a formal application fee of $560 for an owner-occupied property or $1,260 for non-owner-occupied. Budget roughly 6 months for the full process. There's also a spacing rule: a new CUP-approved STR generally can't be within 600 feet of another STR that already has a CUP.

Industrial and Planned Development zoning

STRs are likely prohibited outright in industrial and Planned Development districts.

Enforcement

Operating without the required registration or permit escalates fast: $125 for a first offense, $250 for a second, $500 for a third, $1,000 for a fourth or later. Advertising an unregistered STR is its own violation at $125 per day.

If your property isn't in Louisville Metro

Louisville Metro's ordinance only covers Louisville Metro's own zoning jurisdiction. Nine small home-rule cities inside Jefferson County ban short-term rentals outright, and three more have their own separate STR rules that don't match Louisville Metro's. If your property sits inside one of Jefferson County's roughly 80 independent home-rule cities, don't assume Louisville Metro's rules apply — check directly with that city's own code enforcement or planning office before you list.

Frequently asked questions

Does a long-term tenant subletting on Airbnb still need a permit?

Yes — the 30-day rule is about how long any individual stay lasts, not who owns the unit. If a unit is being rented out for stays under 30 consecutive days by anyone, it's an STR under this ordinance.

What counts as "owner-occupied"?

You need documentation showing you've actually lived in the property, generally for at least the prior 6 months — a permanent legal address elsewhere can disqualify the administrative registration path even if you're on the deed.

Can I appeal if my CUP application is denied?

CUP decisions go through the Board of Zoning Adjustment or Planning Commission, both of which have formal appeal processes — a land use attorney or the Planning & Design Services office can walk through next steps on a specific denial.

Next steps with Winner Realty

If you're buying specifically to run an STR, this is exactly the kind of thing to screen before you write an offer, not after. Licensed in Kentucky and Indiana. Every listing goes live on MLS within 3 business days of signing.