Ohio Short-term rentals (Airbnb)

What are the Airbnb / short-term rental rules in Ohio?

Ohio's state hotel license (R.C. chapter 3731, issued through the state fire marshal) is required to operate a "hotel," which for transient stays means a structure with more than five sleeping rooms offered for pay to guests for 30 days or less. A smaller short-term rental with five or fewer sleeping rooms does not meet that definition. Statute text: ""Transient hotel" means any structure consisting of one or more buildings, with more than five sleeping rooms, that is specifically constructed, kept, used, maintained, advertised, or held out to the public to be a place where sleeping accommodations are offered for pay to transient guests for a period of thirty days or less" (Ohio Rev. Code §§ 3731.01(A)(1)-(2), 3731.03).

Verified Source: Ohio Rev. Code §§ 3731.01(A)(1)-(2), 3731.03 · last checked 2026-10-19