LouisvilleShort-term rental rules
Largest 50 cities / Kentucky
Louisville Metro requires annual registration for every short-term rental. Non-owner-occupied units in residential zones also need a Conditional Use Permit with a 600-foot spacing rule from other approved rentals.
Research reviewed . Original city review.
- Does the operating permit transfer?
- New application
A sale invalidates the registration outright, and voids the CUP itself unless the buyer gets re-registered within 30 days, after which a full new CUP application is required.
- Can the land-use approval continue?
- Timely registration preserves the CUP
The original review identifies a 30-day buyer-registration window to keep the conditional-use permit from becoming void. Obtain the actual CUP and verify its conditions.
- Can this buyer obtain approval?
- Non-owner-occupied rentals are allowed in residential zones only with a CUP, subject to a 600-foot spacing rule from other approved rentals and a public hearing.
- License or registration
- Office of Planning & Design Services issues a $250 annual registration; non-owner-occupied rentals in residential zones also need a Conditional Use Permit.
- Application availability
- Confirm current availability
Application availability was not separately reverified for this explorer. Check the city’s current program, cap, lottery or waitlist before relying on the seller’s rental history.
- Timing to verify
- The original city review identifies a 30-day registration window to preserve the CUP.
- Changes and uncertainty
- Kentucky SB 9 (2026), which would have preempted the conditional use permit system, passed both chambers but died in conference on April 15, 2026.
What this means for the appraisal
- Obtain the buyer application requirements and confirm the earliest approved operating date before assuming continuity of rental income.
- Verify the property’s land-use approval and continuation conditions. Research finding: Timely registration preserves the CUP.
- Check the proposed buyer against the recorded requirements: Non-owner-occupied rentals are allowed in residential zones only with a CUP, subject to a 600-foot spacing rule from other approved rentals and a public hearing.
- In the assignment analysis, identify the evidence supporting the proposed rental use, any operating interruption and any unresolved assumptions.
Use these prompts to plan the property review. The appraiser must evaluate the evidence and reach the assignment-specific conclusions.
Record the property evidence in a worksheetRequest documents from the owner or agent
Copy this market-specific request, add the property address and edit it for the assignment.
Read or select the document request
Subject: STR property document request | Louisville, KY Please provide the following documents for the property under review. Identify any item that is unavailable or does not apply. 1. Property address, parcel ID and confirmation of the governing jurisdiction. 2. Current operating permit or registration, named holder, expiration date and renewal history, if applicable. 3. Written ownership-change instructions from the issuing office. Guide finding: A sale invalidates the registration outright, and voids the CUP itself unless the buyer gets re-registered within 30 days, after which a full new CUP application is required. 4. Zoning approval, conditional-use permit, variance or grandfathering record, including conditions and evidence of continued use. Guide finding: The original review identifies a 30-day buyer-registration window to keep the conditional-use permit from becoming void. Obtain the actual CUP and verify its conditions. 5. Documents addressing the proposed buyer and property requirements: Non-owner-occupied rentals are allowed in residential zones only with a CUP, subject to a 600-foot spacing rule from other approved rentals and a public hearing. 6. Current confirmation of application availability, including any cap, waitlist, lottery or separation rule. Guide finding: Application availability was not separately reverified for this explorer. Check the city’s current program, cap, lottery or waitlist before relying on the seller’s rental history. 7. Recorded covenants, HOA or condominium rental restrictions and applicable lease restrictions. 8. Rental operating statements and booking records, with the periods covered and any anticipated interruption at closing. 9. Confirmation of the applicable deadline and filing evidence: The original city review identifies a 30-day registration window to preserve the CUP. Market research reviewed: 2026-10-18. These requests need property-specific verification. Official research sources: Louisville/Jefferson County Metro Code of Ordinances §§115.515-115.522, Short Term Rentals: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/louisvillemetro/latest/loukymetro/0-0-0-64949 Louisville-Jefferson County Land Development Code §4.2.63, Short Term Rental conditional-use standard: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/louisvillemetro/latest/loukyldc/0-0-0-3774
Research and guide updates
- Research record: Research recorded for this market. Original city review. See the findings, open questions and official sources below.
- Guide tools: Added assignment prompts, a document request and consistent research questions. This tool update does not change the market research date.
Changes and uncertainty to verify
Kentucky SB 9 (2026), which would have preempted the conditional use permit system, passed both chambers but died in conference on April 15, 2026.
Sources and research limits
Carried forward from the October 18, 2026 city research. The explorer separates the operating permit from land-use rights; this is not a new verification of all current city rules.
Use this summary to identify the documents and questions for a property review. A seller's rental history alone does not establish a buyer's permission to operate.