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

Moderate

KentuckyUpdated Apr 17, 2026

Gold-standard verification1% sourced

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

Verified Feb 9, 2026Sources 0

Summary

Plain-english overview

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

Severity 11

Classification

Moderate

Severity

Why this classification

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

In plain English

What this means for you

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

Key numbers

Permit requiredYes

Night limitNone

Primary residenceRequired

Total tax rate0.2%

Permit fee$250

4 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps

1Non-owner occupied units are capped at 5% in the Special Capital District and a maximum of 8 total in the Special Historic District.
2Owner-occupied hosts can only rent their property while not residing there for a max of 24 days per year.
3Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) on owner-occupied properties are treated as owner-occupied STRs.
4Annual registration is due every year by May 1.

Regulation details

Sourced from official code

Eligibility3 rules

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.

Requirements13 rules

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 process7 rules

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 & costs1 rule

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

Taxes2 rules

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 & restrictions5 rules

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 requirements1 rule

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.

Penalties2 rules

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.

Exemptions2 rules

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.

How to get permitted

Step-by-step guide for Frankfort

0/3

steps completed

Step 1

Obtain City Business License

1 weekFree

Official resource

Step 2

Submit STR Annual Registration

Complete the annual registration form with the Department of Planning and Community Development including primary residence proof.

2 weeks$250

Documents needed

Proof of Insurance
Two forms of primary residence proof
Floor/Evacuation Plan

Official resource

Step 3

Pass Initial Inspection

Request and complete a rental housing inspection through the Planning Department to verify safety compliance.

1-2 weeksFree

Official resource

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

Frankfort

Moderate

KentuckyUpdated Apr 17, 2026

Gold-standard verification1% sourced

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

Verified Feb 9, 2026Sources 0

Summary

Plain-english overview

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

Severity 11

Classification

Moderate

Severity

Why this classification

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

In plain English

What this means for you

At a glance

Key numbers

Permit requiredYes

Night limitNone

Primary residenceRequired

Total tax rate0.2%

Permit fee$250

4 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps

1Non-owner occupied units are capped at 5% in the Special Capital District and a maximum of 8 total in the Special Historic District.
2Owner-occupied hosts can only rent their property while not residing there for a max of 24 days per year.
3Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) on owner-occupied properties are treated as owner-occupied STRs.
4Annual registration is due every year by May 1.

Regulation details

Sourced from official code

Eligibility3 rules

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.

Requirements13 rules

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 process7 rules

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 & costs1 rule

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

Taxes2 rules

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 & restrictions5 rules

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 requirements1 rule

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.

Penalties2 rules

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.

Exemptions2 rules

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.

How to get permitted

Step-by-step guide for Frankfort

0/3

steps completed

Step 1

Obtain City Business License

1 weekFree

Official resource

Step 2

Submit STR Annual Registration

Complete the annual registration form with the Department of Planning and Community Development including primary residence proof.

2 weeks$250

Documents needed

Proof of Insurance
Two forms of primary residence proof
Floor/Evacuation Plan

Official resource

Step 3

Pass Initial Inspection

Request and complete a rental housing inspection through the Planning Department to verify safety compliance.

1-2 weeksFree

Official resource

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

Obtain City Business License

Submit STR Annual Registration

Pass Initial Inspection

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?

Disclaimer

Summary

Restriction level

Why this classification

In plain English

At a glance

4 things hosts often miss

Regulation details

How to get permitted

Obtain City Business License

Submit STR Annual Registration

Pass Initial Inspection

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?

Disclaimer