Owner guides
How to permit and register a short-term rental in Louisville
Written by Michael Kimble, founder of Filos Stays, who has operated through the Conditional Use Permit process three times. Published June 2026.
Every short-term rental in Louisville registers with the Metro Office of Planning, and that registration renews every year. Some properties also need a Conditional Use Permit first, depending on the zoning and on whether you live there. This guide walks the whole process in plain language: how to tell which path is yours, what each step is, what the government charges, and how long it tends to take.
Do I need a permit, or just a registration?
It turns on two things: your zoning and whether the property is your primary residence. A primary-residence rental in residential zoning is usually registration only. A property that is not your residence usually needs a Conditional Use Permit first, then registration.
Work through the questions in order. The first question you answer yes to gives your approval path. If the property is in a suburban city, that city's rules apply instead; otherwise, if you answer no to every question, your path is Registration only.
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Is the property inside one of Jefferson County's incorporated suburban cities (not Metro Louisville)?
If yes Your city's rules govern see the cities below
If no, Metro Louisville's process applies. Keep going.
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Is the property in an industrial district?
If yes Likely prohibited
If no, keep going.
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Is the zoning non-residential, or a planned-development district (PVD, PTD, or PRD)?
If yes Likely registration only
If no, your zoning is residential or office-residential. Keep going.
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Is it a condominium?
If yes CUP, then registration the condo association must also approve
If no, keep going.
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Is it in Old Louisville or Limerick?
If yes CUP, then registration these neighborhoods require a permit even owner-occupied
If no, keep going.
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Is it your primary residence?
If yes Registration only
If no CUP, then registration the common investor case
Registration only Administrative approval, no permit required.
Likely registration only Confirm with your city or the Office of Planning.
CUP, then registration A Conditional Use Permit comes first.
Likely prohibited Confirm with your city or the Office of Planning.
Step 1: if the property is in a suburban city
That city's ordinance governs. Some cities have their own short-term-rental rules; others have none, which may mean no short-term rentals. Verify directly with the city before you buy or list.
Their own rules: Lyndon, Middletown, St. Matthews.
No STR rules adopted: Anchorage, Douglass Hills, Graymoor-Devondale, Hurstbourne, Indian Hills, Jeffersontown, Prospect, Shively, St. Regis Park.
The Metro Council Zoning Authority Area map (opens in new tab) shows where Metro's authority applies across the county. (Accurate as of June 2026.)
Two more rules shape eligibility. The 600-foot rule requires a minimum 600-foot separation, measured in a straight line between the nearest property lines, between any two CUP-approved short-term rentals, so an existing approval nearby can rule your address out. The LOJIC STR eligibility map (opens in new tab) is the fastest way to see where your property stands, though the map data may lag recently approved properties, so confirm any close call with the Office of Planning before you count on it.
What does the STR registration require?
Four things: a one-time tax reporting number for you as the host, a per-property registration form with a $250 application fee, residency documentation where the law requires it, and an annual renewal you are responsible for tracking.
- Tax reporting number A Revenue Commission Tax Reporting Number, obtained once per host (it covers all rentals you operate under the same number). Set it up before you register. A short-term rental in Louisville owes the Transient Room Tax and the Occupational License Tax to the Louisville Metro Revenue Commission. The current rules and forms live on the Metro government site, louisvilleky.gov (opens in new tab).
- Registration form and $250 fee A registration form to the Office of Planning for each property, with a $250 application fee per property. File it within 30 days of CUP approval (for properties that need a CUP), and in all cases before listing the property.
- Residency documentation, where required (for owner-occupied STRs) At least two documents, such as a Kentucky ID plus a voter registration, vehicle registration, or tax record. A residency hearing may be required, and in some cases six months of prior residency must be shown.
- Annual renewal The registration renews every year, and the host is responsible for tracking the date. Metro may send a reminder, but a lapse can mean penalties or the loss of a Conditional Use Permit approval.
Requirements may change over time. Confirm the current rules directly with the Louisville Metro Office of Planning at (502) 574-6230 or on their short-term rental information page (opens in new tab). For zoning or eligibility questions specific to your property, a licensed Kentucky attorney is also a good resource.
What are the steps in the Conditional Use Permit process?
Eleven steps, from a pre-application and neighborhood meeting through a formal application, agency review, a public hearing, and a decision.
The timeline depends mainly on two things: how prepared and timely you are, and the BOZA docket backlog when you file. Cases can move through in as little as four months or less; six months or longer is also common. Office of Planning staff can give you a sense of what to expect when you talk with them at the pre-application stage, and they are a valuable resource throughout.
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Submit pre-application
File the pre-application with the Office of Planning. The fee is $250. This opens the case and starts the process.
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Pre-application call with Office of Planning staff (optional)
Optional, and worth taking. Staff answer questions, flag issues specific to your property, and can do a lot to move the case along. A valuable resource here and throughout.
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Send neighborhood meeting notices
Notice of the neighborhood meeting goes out to nearby property owners ahead of time. The Office of Planning will tell you who must be notified and by when.
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Host neighborhood meeting
Meet the neighbors in person and answer their questions before you take a booking. Provide a sign-in sheet and take notes; both go into your formal application. See the section below.
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Comments on pre-application sent to applicant
After the meeting, the Office of Planning sends its comments on the pre-application. These tell you what to address before you file the formal application.
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Submit formal application
The fee is $550 for an owner-occupied property and $1,250 for a non-owner-occupied property, plus a $60 Jefferson County Clerk recording fee. One property per application.
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Agency comments and resubmittals
Agencies review the application and return comments you must address (resubmittals). Complete when all comments are resolved and the case is ready to schedule.
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Scheduled and added to the docket for a public hearing
Once the case is ready, the Office of Planning places it on the BOZA docket. Where it lands depends on the current backlog.
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Mail public hearing notices
14-day written notices go to first-tier and second-tier adjoining property owners and renters, coordinated with the Office of Planning. A sign, or signs, are posted on the property.
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BOZA public hearing and decision
The Board of Zoning Adjustment holds an open hearing and votes. You speak first and may speak again in rebuttal; the board can ask questions at any time. See the section below.
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Post-approval registration
If the permit is approved, register with the Office of Planning within 30 days, and, in all cases, before you list. The full per-property registration is $250. Get your Revenue Commission Tax Reporting Number before you register.
The neighborhood meeting
This is your chance to connect with the people who live around the property, in person, before you ever take a booking.
It helps to remember that everyone in the room wants the same thing. No one wants parties, or loud or disrespectful guests. A well-run, respectful property is the outcome the neighbors want, and it is the outcome you want as the owner.
A few things help the meeting go well:
- Listen, and answer questions thoughtfully and honestly.
- If you do not know an answer, say so, then follow up promptly after the meeting.
- Provide a sign-in sheet and take notes so you can address anything that came up. The sign-in sheet and notes will be included in your formal application.
The BOZA hearing: what to expect
The Board of Zoning Adjustment is a public board of citizens that votes on your permit in an open hearing. It is procedural, and knowing the steps takes most of the surprise out of it.
Before the hearing
- You are responsible for coordinating with the Office of Planning on sending 14-day written notices, on time, to first-tier and second-tier adjoining property owners and renters.
- A sign, or signs, are posted on the property itself.
- The hearing is open to the public, who may attend and speak.
At the hearing
- The board weighs the case against the standards in the ordinance, including whether the property is in good standing and whether the 600-foot rule is met.
- The applicant speaks first, then may speak again in rebuttal after any opposing speakers conclude.
- The board may ask the applicant questions at any time.
- After the hearing, the minutes are approved at the following BOZA meeting.
How to make your specific case, what to bring, and your overall approach is something we can discuss on a call. Every situation is different.
After approval: staying in good standing
Operate responsibly and renew the registration every year. Staying in good standing is how the permit stays active.
Approval is not the finish line. You must renew your registration annually. Conditional Use Permits may be revoked if the registration lapses. Operating responsibly, being a good neighbor, and renewing on time is what keeping a permit in good standing looks like in practice. Running or advertising a short-term rental without a current registration can bring fines.
Where Filos comes in
Michael Kimble, founder of Filos Stays, has operated through the Conditional Use Permit process three times. We can share what we have learned and help you think the process through before you begin.
This page can't address your specific situation, like how your property, location, zoning, and other factors shape the approach, and the operating system that keeps a property a good neighbor after approval. Book a call below and we can talk through it.
Disclaimer and sources
This guide is general information, current as of June 2026. It is not legal advice. Ordinances and fees change, so verify the current rules for your specific address with the Louisville Metro Office of Planning before you buy or list.
- Louisville Metro Office of Planning, short-term rental information: louisvilleky.gov (opens in new tab).
- Louisville Metro Council Ordinance 130 (2023), the governing short-term rental ordinance.
Questions about your property's permit path?
On a short call, we can share our experience and help you think through the considerations for your specific property: the zoning, the 600-foot rule, and the residency question. We will also point you to the Office of Planning and, where it makes sense, a local attorney. No pressure, and no obligation to work with us.
Book a discovery call