What should Frankfort hosts know about non-owner occupied units are capped?

Non-owner occupied units are capped at 5% in the Special Capital District and a maximum of 8 total in the Special Historic District.

What should Frankfort hosts know about owner-occupied hosts can only rent?

Owner-occupied hosts can only rent their property while not residing there for a max of 24 days per year.

What should Frankfort hosts know about accessory dwelling units (adus) on?

Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) on owner-occupied properties are treated as owner-occupied STRs.

What should Frankfort hosts know about annual registration is due every?

Annual registration is due every year by May 1.

Frankfort, KY Short-Term Rental Regulations & Permit Guide

Baseline Verification

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Verified: Feb 9, 2026

Summary

Frankfort requires annual registration by May 1, a $250 regulatory fee, and enforces density caps and conditional use permits for non-owner occupied units in specific districts.

Restriction Level

⚠️

Moderate

Score: 11 (restrictive)

Why this classification:

•Standard permit fee: $250
•Permit required
•Reporting required
•No night cap
•No primary residence requirement

In Plain English

If you rent out your property for less than 30 days, you must register annually with the City Planning Department and obtain a business license. The city distinguishes between owner-occupied and non-owner occupied rentals, with strict occupancy limits of two people per bedroom plus four additional guests.

At a Glance

Permit Required

Yes

Night Limit

None

Primary Residence

Required

Total Tax Rate

0.2%

Permit Fee

$250

4 Things Hosts Often Miss

Regulation Details

Eligibility(3)

•Frankfort allows STRs in the following property types: Single Family, Two-Family, Condo, Apartment, ADU.
•Frankfort: Your HOA can prohibit short-term rentals even if the city allows them. Check your CC&Rs before applying.
•Frankfort: You can have a co-host or property manager help manage your listing.

Requirements(13)

•Frankfort: You must display your permit/registration number on your Airbnb listing.
•Frankfort: Owner-occupied hosts can only rent their property while not residing there for a max of 24 days per year.
•Frankfort STR warning: Non-owner occupied units are capped at 5% in the Special Capital District and a maximum of 8 total in the Special Historic District.

Application Process(7)

•How to set up an STR in Frankfort: If you rent out your property for less than 30 days, you must register annually with the City Planning Department and obtain a business license. The city distinguishes between owner-occupied and non-owner occupied rentals, with strict occupancy limits of two people per bedroom plus four additional guests.

Fees & Costs(1)

•Frankfort charges a registration fee of $250 (annual).

Taxes(2)

•Frankfort charges a Transient Room Tax (City/County) + Fine Arts Tax of 0.1%. This applies to stays under 30 days. Hosts are responsible for collecting and remitting this tax. Note: Airbnb remits only the 6% state sales and 1% state transient tax; local taxes must be remitted by the host.
•Kentucky has a state sales tax of 0.06% that applies to STR rentals.

Limits & Restrictions(5)

•Frankfort occupancy calculation: 2 per bedroom + 4. Count your bedrooms to determine your max guest limit.
•Frankfort: Non-owner occupied units are capped at 5% in the Special Capital District and a maximum of 8 total in the Special Historic District.
•Frankfort limits STRs to a maximum of 12 guests. Formula: 2 per bedroom + 4
•Frankfort limits stays to a maximum of 29 nights.

Safety Requirements(1)

•Frankfort requires the following safety measures for STRs: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher, fire inspection, posted maximum occupancy, posted emergency contact, Evacuation plan required, Rental housing inspection at initial registration, No signage permitted.

Penalties(2)

•Frankfort: Repeated violations can result in permanent permit revocation. You would lose the ability to operate any STR.
•Frankfort enforces the following penalties for STR violations: First offense: $100 citation. Second offense: $25 per day. Third offense: License revocation. Daily fine: $25 per day. Permit may be revoked for violations.

Exemptions(2)

•Frankfort: Rentals of 30+ days are generally NOT considered short-term rentals and may be exempt from STR regulations (but may have other requirements).
•Frankfort exempts the following from STR regulations: long-term rentals (30+ days), extended stays, Hotels, Motels, Bed and Breakfasts.

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Disclaimer

Regulatory information is AI-researched 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.

Frankfort

Baseline Verification

Summary

Restriction Level

Why this classification:

In Plain English

At a Glance

4 Things Hosts Often Miss

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Regulation Details

Eligibility(3)

Requirements(13)

Application Process(7)

Fees & Costs(1)

Taxes(2)

Limits & Restrictions(5)

Safety Requirements(1)

Penalties(2)

Exemptions(2)

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Step-by-Step Application Guide

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Frequently Asked Questions

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Frankfort

Baseline Verification

Summary

Restriction Level

Why this classification:

In Plain English

At a Glance

4 Things Hosts Often Miss

Step-by-Step Application Guide

Upgrade to Pro

Frequently Asked Questions

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

2What is the TOT tax rate in Frankfort?

3Are there occupancy limits for Frankfort rentals?

4What are the registration deadlines in Frankfort?

Related Content

Other Kentucky Markets

Bardstown

Lexington

Louisville