This guide distills the City of Dublin’s adopted STR regulations, the approval process, the obligations you must meet before you list, and the on-going compliance requirements that govern operation in this market. It is built exclusively from Dublin’s ordinance text, city staff memoranda, and public meeting minutes, along with one news report documenting the implementation timeline.

Overview – Are Short-Term Rentals Allowed?

Yes. Short-term rentals are allowed in Dublin, Ohio, but they are tightly regulated.

Key points:

• You may rent only two (2) weeks total in a calendar year (any combination of weekly stays), and no stay shorter than one week is permitted.
• If you wish to rent more than two weeks in a year, the entire rental must be to the same tenant for 30 or more consecutive days (i.e., a long-term lease).
• Registration with the City is required, including payment of an application fee and posting of the registration number on all listings.
• Occupancy, parking, and behavioral standards are enforced, and noncompliance can lead to fines, suspension, or permanent revocation of your registration.

Important exclusions:

• Hotels and motels, and corporate housing (when the provider submits an affidavit to the Planning Director attesting the business is primarily for corporate clients), are not considered short-term rentals for purposes of Chapter 122.
• Existing bed-and-breakfast establishments lawfully operating as of the effective date, and that have not ceased for more than 90 consecutive days, are exempt from Chapter 122’s requirements.

How to Start a Short-Term Rental Business in Dublin

1. Determine your eligibility and property suitability

• You may register only one STR per operation.
• You must be either the owner or a permanent occupant of the dwelling (residing there >51% of the time during the calendar year).
• Confirm zoning and deed/HOA restrictions independently; Chapter 122 does not confer a zoning right to operate an STR where zoning or private covenants would otherwise prohibit it.

2. Register the STR with the City

• Submit a completed registration application to the Planning Director (or designee) and pay the $225 fee. Electronic submission is being developed, per staff plans.
• Once approved, your registration is effective the day of approval and expires December 31 of that year; if approved on or after September 1, it is valid through December 31 of the next calendar year.
• Post the registration account number prominently on all hosting platforms and advertisements for the unit; remove the number when the registration expires.

3. Prepare your application package

• Include:
  • Applicant name, mailing address, phone, and email
  • Proof you qualify (owner or permanent occupant)
  • Names of all hosting platforms used (e.g., Airbnb, VRBO, HomeAway) and proof of rental insurance
  • Names of any non-platform advertising outlets you intend to use
  • Maximum number of occupants (not more than two per bedroom)
  • Maximum number of motor vehicles (garage on-prem count, plus up to two in the driveway, plus up to two on-street)
  • An affidavit attesting compliance with all applicable local, state, and federal laws
• If not the owner, a permanent occupant must obtain the owner’s permission to register and advertise.

4. Prepare to comply on an ongoing basis

• Before each rental, you must submit to the Planning Director:
  • Maximum number of people during the rental
  • Maximum number of motor vehicles present during the rental
  • The date(s) and approximate time frame of occupancy
  • A 24/7 contact name and phone number for issues related to the STR or guests
• Maintain records showing:
  • Primary residency status
  • Dates and duration of each stay
  • Nightly rates charged
  • Maximum occupancy permitted
  • Maximum vehicles permitted
  • Any other records to demonstrate compliance

5. Launch, manage, and renew

• Begin renting once approved and listed with your registration number.
• Renew your registration each year by the first Monday of November; if you fail to renew, your registration expires on December 31.
• Any change in ownership voids the registration and requires a new application.
• Notify the City of any change in application information within 10 days.

Required Documents, Permits, Licenses, and Guidelines

• City Registration Application (Planning Director; fee $225)
  • Application details: ownership/occupancy proof, hosting platform names, proof of rental insurance, intended advertising outlets, occupancy limits, vehicle limits, compliance affidavit
• Rental Insurance
  • Required; proof of coverage must be submitted with the application
• Pre-Rental Submission Form (for each rental)
  • People count, vehicle count, stay dates/timeframe, 24/7 contact info
• Registration Account Number (must be posted on all platforms and ads)
• Records Maintenance
  • Primary residency verification, stay records, rates, occupancy/vehicle maximums

Compliance guidelines:

• Minimum rental duration: one week (7 consecutive nights)
• Maximum occupancy: two (2) persons per bedroom (as stated in application)
• Vehicle limits: must not exceed the number that can be garaged on-premises, plus up to two in the driveway, plus up to two on-street
• Posting: registration number on all platforms/ads
• Inspections: the Planning Director (or designee) may inspect with consent or through other legal authority

Specific Regulations for Dublin, Ohio (City, County, State)

City of Dublin – Chapter 122, Short-Term Rental Operations

• Rental cap and minimum stay

  • No more than two (2) weeks total in a calendar year
  • Minimum stay is one week (seven consecutive nights)
  • Rentals shorter than one week are prohibited
  • If you want to rent more than two weeks in a year, you must lease to the same tenant for 30+ consecutive days (i.e., long-term rental, outside STR rules)

• Registration

  • Required for any STR operation in Dublin
  • Fee: $225; renewal by first Monday of November; expiration December 31
  • Post registration number on all listings; remove upon expiration
  • Notify City within 10 days of any changes; ownership change voids the current registration

• Occupancy and parking

  • Maximum occupants not to exceed two per bedroom
  • Parking limited to garage on premises, plus up to two vehicles in driveway and up to two on street

• Pre-rental submissions

  • Before each rental, submit guest and vehicle counts, dates/timeframe, and a 24/7 host contact

• Operator responsibilities

  • Maintain records and make them available upon request
  • If a permanent occupant (not the owner) is the host, obtain written permission from the property owner

• Advertising and platform disclosure

  • Disclose hosting platforms and advertising outlets used
  • Registration number must be displayed on all ads

• Grounds for denial

  • Misrepresentation on application
  • Conviction for violating the rental cap
  • Not in good standing with Dublin Income Tax Division
  • Documented history of conduct that endangers neighborhood safety or interferes with neighbors’ use and enjoyment (including violations under Section 122.10)

• Revocation and progressive discipline

  • Revocation/suspension allowed for listing without registration number, exceeding the rental cap, being delinquent with the Income Tax Division, or violating conduct standards
  • Progressive discipline:
    • First violation: registration terminated; 6-month ban from re-registering
    • Second violation: registration terminated; 1-year ban from re-registering
    • Third violation: permanent revocation of ability to register

• Conduct standards (grounds for action)

  • Noise audible beyond property boundary
  • Exceeding maximum occupancy
  • Exceeding vehicle limits
  • Uninvited entry onto private property within 500 feet of the STR

• Appeals

  • Denials or revocations may be appealed to the City Manager within 10 business days; burden of proof is on the appellant to show the action was arbitrary or unreasonable

• Inspections

  • The Planning Director (or designee) may inspect with consent or under other legal authority

• Transfer prohibition

  • Registrations are not transferable to another STR operation

• Discrimination prohibited

  • Hosts may not discriminate in booking or terms based on protected characteristics

• Penalties

  • Violations are unclassified misdemeanors
  • First offense: up to $250 fine
  • Subsequent offenses: up to $1,000 fine
  • Additional penalties may apply as provided in the chapter

• Exemptions

  • Hotels/motels are excluded
  • Corporate housing is excluded when properly affidavit (attesting the entity is primarily engaged in corporate temporary housing)
  • Traditional bed-and-breakfast establishments lawfully operating as of the effective date (with no cessation >90 days) are exempt

County and State Context

• Lodging (bed) taxes

  • Franklin County imposes a lodging tax (commonly 3%) on transient accommodations; Dublin is in Franklin County. Because short-term rentals constitute transient lodging, lodging taxes may apply.
  • The Dublin memo notes the new STR registration will facilitate bed-tax collection. You should confirm current rates, filing requirements, and whether county or additional local lodging taxes apply to your operation.

• Sales and use tax

  • Ohio sales tax rules may apply to short-term rental charges. Confirm current state and local sales tax rates and filing obligations with Ohio Department of Taxation guidance.

• Zoning considerations (Council/Committee discussion)

  • Council and the Community Development Committee explored permitting more flexible STR rules in mixed-use areas such as the Bridge Street District or Bridge Park, and restricting STRs more tightly in purely residential areas. The adopted ordinance is citywide with the two-week cap and one-week minimum. If you seek zoning-based allowances beyond Chapter 122, any zoning code changes would go through the Planning & Zoning Commission process.

Contact Information (Local Authority in Charge of STRs)

City of Dublin – Planning Department (Planning Director)

• Address: 5555 Perimeter Center, Dublin, OH 43017
• Phone: 614-410-4400

City of Dublin – Income Tax Division (compliance checks)

• Phone: 614-410-4400
• Email: Not provided in source materials

City of Dublin – Law Department

• Jennifer D. Readler, Law Director
• Thad Boggs, Assistant Law Director

For appeals:

• City Manager’s Office
• Address: 5555 Perimeter Center, Dublin, OH 43017
• Phone: 614-410-4400

Note: Electronic registration forms were in development at the time of the memo; visit the City’s official website to confirm current online application portals and submission processes.

Source Pages and Links

• Chapter 122 – Short-Term Rental Operations (Exhibit A ordinance text)

  • dublinohiousa.gov/dev/dev/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Short-Term-Rental-Regulation-4836-0862-7877.13.pdf

• Short-Term Rentals – Memo to City Council (Oct. 6, 2020) and attachments

  • dublinohiousa.gov/dev/dev/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Short-Term-Rentals-10-12-20.pdf

• Short-Term Rental Regulation – Community Development Committee Meeting Minutes (Sept. 16, 2020)

  • weblink.dublin.oh.us/WebLinkPublic/DocView.aspx?id=1233020&dbid=0&repo=Dublin-Images

• Short-term rental regulations go into effect for Dublin (NBC4, Dec. 2, 2020)

  • www.nbc4i.com/news/local-news/short-term-rental-regulations-go-into-effect-for-dublin/

Key takeaways for investors

• Dublin permits STRs but imposes a strict annual cap and weekly minimum stay, coupled with comprehensive registration, occupancy and parking limits, and a progressive enforcement regime. The city can inspect, deny, suspend, and permanently revoke registrations for violations. Given the modest cap, treat this market as supplemental income rather than a primary hospitality strategy. The best path to sustainable compliance is proactive listing hygiene (posting the registration number), meticulous pre-rental submissions, disciplined occupancy/parking enforcement, and impeccable records.