What zoning rules apply to STRs in West Lafayette?

Complete ban on unhosted STRs in R-1 and R-2 zones established in late 2024.

What should West Lafayette hosts know about owner-occupied rentals are capped at?

Owner-occupied rentals are capped at 60 total days per year if the owner is not present.

What should West Lafayette hosts know about maximum of 3 unrelated individuals?

Maximum of 3 unrelated individuals per unit (strictly enforced student housing rule).

What should West Lafayette hosts know about tippecanoe county innkeeper's tax rate?

Tippecanoe County Innkeeper's Tax rate increases to 8% in 2025.

West Lafayette

Strict

IndianaUpdated Mar 17, 2026

Gold-standard verification1% sourced

Cross-referenced against 0 official sources — municipal codes, planning-department pages, and government registries.

Verified Feb 6, 2026Sources 0

Summary

Plain-english overview

West Lafayette prohibits non-owner occupied short-term rentals in single-family residential zones (R-1, R-2) while requiring permits and safety inspections in allowed commercial and multi-family zones.

Restriction level

Severity 51

Classification

Strict

Severity

Why this classification

Strict night cap: 60 nights/year
Standard permit fee: $150
Tenants cannot host
Permit required
Reporting required
No primary residence requirement

In plain English

What this means for you

You can only operate a full-time short-term rental (Transient Guest House) in specific zones like R-3 or commercial areas. In single-family neighborhoods, you are generally limited to renting out spare rooms while you live there or renting your entire home for no more than 60 days per year. All hosts must register their property with the city, pass a safety inspection, and collect state and county taxes.

At a glance

Key numbers

Permit requiredYes

Night limit60/year

Primary residenceNot required

Total tax rate0.1%

Permit fee$150

Processing time2-4 weeks

Max fine$7,500

4 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps

1Complete ban on unhosted STRs in R-1 and R-2 zones established in late 2024.
2Owner-occupied rentals are capped at 60 total days per year if the owner is not present.
3Maximum of 3 unrelated individuals per unit (strictly enforced student housing rule).
4Tippecanoe County Innkeeper's Tax rate increases to 8% in 2025.

Regulation details

Sourced from official code

Eligibility6 rules

West Lafayette allows STRs in the following property types: Single Family (with 60-day cap if primary), Multi-family (in R3 zones), Condo, Townhouse.
West Lafayette: You can have a co-host or property manager help manage your listing.
West Lafayette: Your HOA can prohibit short-term rentals even if the city allows them. Check your CC&Rs before applying.

Requirements11 rules

West Lafayette: You must display your permit/registration number on your Airbnb listing.
West Lafayette: A fire inspection may be required before you can operate. Schedule early as this can delay your start date.
West Lafayette: Hosts must report their rental activity quarterly to the city, even if platforms collect taxes.

Application process7 rules

West Lafayette STR permit - Step 1: Verify Zoning Eligibility. Confirm your property is in a zone that allows STRs (R3, R4, MRU, CB, CBW) or that you meet the 'Transient Guest Rental' (owner-occupied/60-day cap) criteria. Time: 1-2 days.

Fees & costs1 rule

West Lafayette charges a registration fee of $150 (annual).

Taxes3 rules

West Lafayette charges a Tippecanoe County Innkeeper's Tax of 0.08%. This applies to stays under 30 days. Platforms like Airbnb collect and remit this tax. Note: Airbnb and VRBO generally remit state and county taxes directly
West Lafayette: Tippecanoe County Innkeeper's Tax rate increases to 8% in 2025.
Indiana has a state sales tax of 0.07% that applies to STR rentals.

Limits & restrictions7 rules

West Lafayette limits stays to a maximum of 29 nights.
West Lafayette: Maximum of 3 unrelated individuals per unit (strictly enforced student housing rule).
West Lafayette limits STRs to 60 nights per year. This applies to unhosted rentals. Exception: Only in by-right zones (R-3, commercial) as a 'Transient Guest House'

Safety requirements1 rule

West Lafayette requires the following safety measures for STRs: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher, fire inspection, posted maximum occupancy, posted emergency contact, Egress windows, Adequate off-street parking, No exterior modifications altering residential appearance.

Penalties2 rules

West Lafayette enforces the following penalties for STR violations: First offense: $500 fine. Second offense: $1,000 fine. Third offense: $2,500 fine. Daily fine: $500 per day. Maximum fine: 7500. Permit may be revoked for violations.
West Lafayette: Repeated violations can result in permanent permit revocation. You would lose the ability to operate any STR.

Exemptions3 rules

West Lafayette exempts the following from STR regulations: long-term rentals (30+ days), extended stays.
West Lafayette: Rentals of 30+ days are generally NOT considered short-term rentals and may be exempt from STR regulations (but may have other requirements).
West Lafayette: If you are present during the guest's stay (hosted rental), night caps may not apply to you.

How to get permitted

Step-by-step guide for West Lafayette

0/4

steps completed

Step 1

Verify Zoning Eligibility

Confirm your property is in a zone that allows STRs (R3, R4, MRU, CB, CBW) or that you meet the 'Transient Guest Rental' (owner-occupied/60-day cap) criteria.

1-2 daysFree

Official resource

Step 2

Register for Sales & Innkeeper Tax

Register with the Indiana Department of Revenue for a Sales Tax and County Innkeeper's Tax account via the INTIME portal.

1 week$25

Documents needed

Business Entity Info
FEIN

Official resource

Step 3

Submit Transient Rental Registration

Complete the 'Category 2' rental registration application with the West Lafayette Department of Development.

2 weeks$150

Documents needed

Proof of ownership
Insurance certificate
Floor plan
Site plan

Official resource

Step 4

Schedule Safety Inspection

Once the application is processed, the city will schedule a mandatory life-safety inspection of the property.

1 weekFree

Frequently asked questions

4 answered

Disclaimer

Regulatory information is AI-researched from public city/county codes for educational purposes. Details may be outdated or incomplete. Always verify requirements directly with your city/county planning department before operating a short-term rental.

Researched & verified by Learn STR at GoStudioM

West Lafayette

Strict

IndianaUpdated Mar 17, 2026

Gold-standard verification1% sourced

Cross-referenced against 0 official sources — municipal codes, planning-department pages, and government registries.

Verified Feb 6, 2026Sources 0

Summary

Plain-english overview

Restriction level

Severity 51

Classification

Strict

Severity

Why this classification

Strict night cap: 60 nights/year
Standard permit fee: $150
Tenants cannot host
Permit required
Reporting required
No primary residence requirement

In plain English

What this means for you

At a glance

Key numbers

Permit requiredYes

Night limit60/year

Primary residenceNot required

Total tax rate0.1%

Permit fee$150

Processing time2-4 weeks

Max fine$7,500

4 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps

1Complete ban on unhosted STRs in R-1 and R-2 zones established in late 2024.
2Owner-occupied rentals are capped at 60 total days per year if the owner is not present.
3Maximum of 3 unrelated individuals per unit (strictly enforced student housing rule).
4Tippecanoe County Innkeeper's Tax rate increases to 8% in 2025.

Regulation details

Sourced from official code

Eligibility6 rules

West Lafayette allows STRs in the following property types: Single Family (with 60-day cap if primary), Multi-family (in R3 zones), Condo, Townhouse.
West Lafayette: You can have a co-host or property manager help manage your listing.
West Lafayette: Your HOA can prohibit short-term rentals even if the city allows them. Check your CC&Rs before applying.

Requirements11 rules

West Lafayette: You must display your permit/registration number on your Airbnb listing.
West Lafayette: A fire inspection may be required before you can operate. Schedule early as this can delay your start date.
West Lafayette: Hosts must report their rental activity quarterly to the city, even if platforms collect taxes.

Application process7 rules

West Lafayette STR permit - Step 1: Verify Zoning Eligibility. Confirm your property is in a zone that allows STRs (R3, R4, MRU, CB, CBW) or that you meet the 'Transient Guest Rental' (owner-occupied/60-day cap) criteria. Time: 1-2 days.

Fees & costs1 rule

West Lafayette charges a registration fee of $150 (annual).

Taxes3 rules

West Lafayette charges a Tippecanoe County Innkeeper's Tax of 0.08%. This applies to stays under 30 days. Platforms like Airbnb collect and remit this tax. Note: Airbnb and VRBO generally remit state and county taxes directly
West Lafayette: Tippecanoe County Innkeeper's Tax rate increases to 8% in 2025.
Indiana has a state sales tax of 0.07% that applies to STR rentals.

Limits & restrictions7 rules

West Lafayette limits stays to a maximum of 29 nights.
West Lafayette: Maximum of 3 unrelated individuals per unit (strictly enforced student housing rule).
West Lafayette limits STRs to 60 nights per year. This applies to unhosted rentals. Exception: Only in by-right zones (R-3, commercial) as a 'Transient Guest House'

Safety requirements1 rule

West Lafayette requires the following safety measures for STRs: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher, fire inspection, posted maximum occupancy, posted emergency contact, Egress windows, Adequate off-street parking, No exterior modifications altering residential appearance.

Penalties2 rules

West Lafayette enforces the following penalties for STR violations: First offense: $500 fine. Second offense: $1,000 fine. Third offense: $2,500 fine. Daily fine: $500 per day. Maximum fine: 7500. Permit may be revoked for violations.
West Lafayette: Repeated violations can result in permanent permit revocation. You would lose the ability to operate any STR.

Exemptions3 rules

West Lafayette exempts the following from STR regulations: long-term rentals (30+ days), extended stays.
West Lafayette: Rentals of 30+ days are generally NOT considered short-term rentals and may be exempt from STR regulations (but may have other requirements).
West Lafayette: If you are present during the guest's stay (hosted rental), night caps may not apply to you.

How to get permitted

Step-by-step guide for West Lafayette

0/4

steps completed

Step 1

Verify Zoning Eligibility

Confirm your property is in a zone that allows STRs (R3, R4, MRU, CB, CBW) or that you meet the 'Transient Guest Rental' (owner-occupied/60-day cap) criteria.

1-2 daysFree

Official resource

Step 2

Register for Sales & Innkeeper Tax

Register with the Indiana Department of Revenue for a Sales Tax and County Innkeeper's Tax account via the INTIME portal.

1 week$25

Documents needed

Business Entity Info
FEIN

Official resource

Step 3

Submit Transient Rental Registration

Complete the 'Category 2' rental registration application with the West Lafayette Department of Development.

2 weeks$150

Documents needed

Proof of ownership
Insurance certificate
Floor plan
Site plan

Official resource

Step 4

Schedule Safety Inspection

Once the application is processed, the city will schedule a mandatory life-safety inspection of the property.

1 weekFree

Frequently asked questions

4 answered

Disclaimer

Researched & verified by Learn STR at GoStudioM

Summary

Restriction level

Why this classification

In plain English

At a glance

4 things hosts often miss

Regulation details

How to get permitted

Verify Zoning Eligibility

Register for Sales & Innkeeper Tax

Submit Transient Rental Registration

Schedule Safety Inspection

Frequently asked questions

1Do I need a permit for short-term rentals in West Lafayette?

2What is the TOT tax rate in West Lafayette?

3Are there rental night limits in West Lafayette?

4What are the penalties for non-compliance in West Lafayette?

Disclaimer

Summary

Restriction level

Why this classification

In plain English

At a glance

4 things hosts often miss

Regulation details

How to get permitted

Verify Zoning Eligibility

Register for Sales & Innkeeper Tax

Submit Transient Rental Registration

Schedule Safety Inspection

Frequently asked questions

1Do I need a permit for short-term rentals in West Lafayette?

2What is the TOT tax rate in West Lafayette?

3Are there rental night limits in West Lafayette?

4What are the penalties for non-compliance in West Lafayette?

Disclaimer