A short-term rental in Bowling Green, KY refers to a property, such as a house or apartment, that is rented out for 29 days or less. These rentals cater to travelers, tourists, or individuals seeking temporary accommodation for purposes such as vacations, business trips, or temporary relocation. They are often advertised through online platforms like Airbnb, VRBO, or directly by property owners or management companies.

Yes

Yes, there is the Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT), Sales Tax and Hotel/Motel Tax

In Bowling Green, KY, individuals, including absentee owner investors, are permitted to operate Short-Term Rentals (STRs), provided they understand the specific type of STR they own and register it accordingly. There are four distinct types of STRs, each subject to its own set of regulations:

1. Bed and Breakfast Home: Owner-occupied with five or fewer guest rooms.
2. Bed and Breakfast Inn: Owner-occupied with six or more guest rooms.
3. Lodging House: Owner-occupied with five or fewer bedrooms available for rent.
4. Boarding House: Not owner-occupied, where either all or a portion of the home is rented out, with a maximum of 10 guests.

STR operators must adhere strictly to the regulations associated with their specific type of rental. For more detailed information, please refer to the following link: Bowling Green Short-Term Rental Regulations.

None

Neighborhood approval is not needed to operate a short-term rental in Bowling Green Kentucky

Building, Health & Safety Regulations for Short-Term Rentals in Bowling Green Kentucky:

1. Boarding House (not owner-occupied and 10 guests maximum)
   • Adherence to Kentucky residential code.
   • Installation of interconnected smoke detectors in sleeping rooms and adjacent to each sleeping area where garage or gas-fired appliances are present.
   • Building identification with minimum 6-inch numbers visible from the street.
2. Bed and Breakfast Homes (owner-occupied and fewer than 5 guest rooms)
   • Illuminated hallway or corridor connecting suites to exit paths.
   • Interconnected smoke detectors in sleeping rooms and adjacent to each sleeping area where garage or gas-fired appliances are present.
   • Minimum of two remote exits from the ground floor to the outside.
   • Self-closing doors connecting to the hallway or corridor.
   • Building identification with minimum 6-inch numbers visible from the street.
3. Bed and Breakfast Inns (owner-occupied and 6 or more guest rooms)
   • Provision of at least one accessible unit per building with a roll-in type shower.
   • Illuminated hallway or corridor connecting suites to exit paths.
   • Interconnected smoke detectors in sleeping rooms and adjacent to each sleeping area where garage or gas-fired appliances are present.
   • Minimum of two remote exits from the ground floor to the outside.
   • Self-closing doors connecting to the hallway or corridor.
   • Building identification with minimum 6-inch numbers visible from the street.
4. Lodging Houses (owner-occupied and 5 or fewer bedrooms for rent)
   • Installation of interconnected smoke detectors in sleeping rooms and adjacent to each sleeping area where garage or gas-fired appliances are present.
   • Illuminated hallway or corridor connecting suites to exit paths.
   • Self-closing doors connecting to the hallway or corridor.
   • Minimum of two remote exits from the ground floor to the outside.
   • Building identification with minimum 6-inch numbers visible from the street.
   • Separation from other occupancies by a minimum of 10 feet or installation of 1-hour fire-rated protection assemblies.

For R-2 apartment buildings converted to short-term rentals:

• Each apartment unit is considered a rental unit, limited to 10 or fewer guests each.
• Permanent illumination of corridor exit paths and provision of emergency lighting.
• Installation of self-closing doors connecting to the corridor.

In Bowling Green, KY, individuals, including absentee owner investors, are permitted to operate Short-Term Rentals (STRs), provided they understand the specific type of STR they own and register it accordingly. There are four distinct types of STRs, each subject to its own set of regulations:

1. Bed and Breakfast Home: Owner-occupied with five or fewer guest rooms.
2. Bed and Breakfast Inn: Owner-occupied with six or more guest rooms.
3. Lodging House: Owner-occupied with five or fewer bedrooms available for rent.
4. Boarding House: Not owner-occupied, where either all or a portion of the home is rented out, with a maximum of 10 guests.

STR operators must adhere strictly to the regulations associated with their specific type of rental. For more detailed information, please refer to the following link: Bowling Green Short-Term Rental Regulations.

Yes, there is the Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT), Sales Tax and Hotel/Motel Tax

Yes, a license is required for STR in Bowling Green, KY.

Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT): Bowling Green imposes a transient room tax of three (3%) percent on the rate, rent, or other charge for the occupancy of short-term rental accommodations, including suites, rooms, cabins, lodgings, campsites, or similar overnight accommodations rented for periods of less than thirty (30) days. This tax applies to all persons, firms, or organizations engaged in the activity of short-term rentals, including rentals facilitated through online travel companies. However, transient room taxes do not apply to accommodations supplied for a continuous period of thirty (30) days or more to any person.

Additionally, a special transient room tax of one (1%) percent is hereby imposed solely to meet the operating expenses of the Convention Center of Bowling Green/Warren County, which brings the total to 4%

Sales Tax: The current total local sales tax rate in Bowling Green, KY is 6.000%. This is for the state as the city and county charge 0% on Sales tax.

Hotel/Motel Tax: STR owners are require to pay a hotel/motel tax of 5%

Sales tax collections must be filed and paid monthly by the 20th of the following month. Returns can be submitted online through the Department's Kentucky Taxpayer Access Point (TAP) system. Make sure to maintain detailed records and comply with all deadlines.

The Zip codes below are prohibited for STR use

42101

42103

42104

Short-term rentals are permitted in all residential properties except for single-family homes. However, if single-family homes are to be used for short-term rentals, they must be converted according to approved specifications. For further details, please refer to the following link: Bowling Green Short-Term Rental Regulations.

Yes, Occupancy limits affect STRs

The following Regulations affect owners of STRs in Bowling Green:

1. Occupancy Limits: Depending on the type of STR, there will be occupancy limits set by local regulations. For instance, Bed and Breakfast Homes may have a maximum occupancy of five or fewer guests, while Boarding Houses may be limited to hosting a maximum of ten guests.
2. Registration Requirements: Property owners are required to register their STRs with City of Bowling Green Neighborhood and Community Services and obtain permits/licenses from City County Planning Commission to operate legally and the license number must be displayed on all platforms the property is listed. This registration process may involve providing information about the property, owner contact details, and adherence to safety standards.
3. Taxation: Property owners operating STRs are subject to various taxes, including occupancy taxes, sales taxes, and transient tax as the case may be. Compliance with tax regulations is essential to avoid penalties or legal issues.
4. Health and Safety Standards: Property owners must ensure that their STRs meet health and safety standards established by local authorities. This may include regular inspections for fire safety, sanitation, and building code compliance.
5. Owner Residence Requirements: Certain types of STRs, such as Bed and Breakfast Homes, will require the owner to live on the property. In contrast, other types of STRs, like Boarding Houses, do not have such requirements. Property owners must understand and adhere to these residency regulations.

The requirements for obtaining a short-term rental (STR) permit include receiving signatures from each applicable department in the County. The City-County Planning Commission (CCPC) must be the last stop as they issue the STR license. While some agencies may have associated fees for compliance with their regulations, there is no fee for the STR license itself.

In Bowling Green, short-term rental hosts are required to comply with safety regulations, maintain appropriate insurance, and collect and remit occupancy taxes to the state. Hosts follow specific rules related to noise and parking.

In Bowling Green, any unpaid Transient Occupancy Tax or special Transient Occupancy Tax shall accrue interest at a rate of twelve (12%) percent per annum simple interest once it becomes due. Additionally, a penalty of five (5%) percent of the tax due will be charged for each calendar month or fraction thereof that the tax remains unpaid. The total penalty shall not exceed twenty-five percent (25%) of the total tax due, with a minimum penalty of twenty-five dollars ($25.00). Failure to properly complete and file a return or pay the tax, in whole or in part, may result in misdemeanor charges. Those found guilty may face a fine ranging from one hundred dollars ($100.00) to five hundred dollars ($500.00), imprisonment for up to thirty (30) days, or both. Each day of violation constitutes a separate offense.

Yes, the official Regulatory body for Short Term Rentals in Bowling Green is City-County Planning Commission (CCPC)

The CCPC can be contacted through the following channels:

Phone: (270) 842-1953

Address: 922 State Street, Suite 200, Bowling Green, KY 42101

None

The requirements for obtaining a short-term rental (STR) permit include receiving signatures from each applicable department in the County. The City-County Planning Commission (CCPC) must be the last stop as they issue the STR license. While some agencies may have associated fees for compliance with their regulations, there is no fee for the STR license itself.