Short-term rentals are private properties that owners rent out to people for short stays. They’re often referred to as Airbnbs, named after the web service where such rentals are advertised. Covington recently passed an ordinance that allowed non host-occupied short term rentals–that is, short term rentals where the owner doesn’t live inside–to apply for limited-use zoning within certain zones in the city.
This ordinance comes after several other legislative changes regulating short-term rentals that have occurred over the past year or so.
As it stands, someone who wishes to operate a short-term rental in Covington must adhere to the following regulations:
- Short-term rental landlords must apply for a general business license, $50, and a short-term rental license, which costs $500. If the landlord runs a rental in one of the limited-use zones, they must also apply for a change-of-use application fee of $80. License approvals and fee processing are handled by city staff and do not require a hearing before the city’s architectural review board as they did in the past.
- Short-term rental licenses must be renewed annually at a cost of $250.
- Rentals must undergo an inspection to ensure safety and adherence to other building codes. Landlords who fail the inspection will be charged $100 for re-inspection.
- Anyone who is denied a license can appeal to the city’s special license appeal board.
- Operating without a license can incur increased application fees and denials of license applications for up to a year.
- Landlords who do not live in Covington must assign a local agent to handle any concerns that may arise during someone’s stay.
- Landlords must inform neighboring property owners of their intent to run a short term rental.
- The number of short-term rentals cannot exceed established caps in each of Covington’s neighborhoods.
- Landlords are subject to a three-strike rule when it comes to code violations.
Read the full ordinances establishing these regulations and learn more about applying for licenses at the links below.