What are the key requirements for Akron hosts?

Owner MUST be an Akron resident.

What are the key requirements for Akron hosts?

Responsible contact person must be able to respond within 45 minutes of a complaint.

Are there rental limits in Akron?

Occupancy is strictly limited to 2 adults per bedroom plus 4 additional people.

What are the permit fees in Akron?

A $250 annual fee is required regardless of property size.

Akron

Strict

OhioUpdated Apr 1, 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

Akron requires short-term rental operators to register annually, pay a $250 fee, and ensure the owner is a resident of the city.

Restriction level

Severity 76

Classification

Strict

Severity

Why this classification

Primary residence required
Owner-occupied required
Standard permit fee: $250
Tenants cannot host
Permit required
Reporting required
No night cap

In plain English

What this means for you

If you want to host an Airbnb or VRBO in Akron, you must live in the city and register your property with the Housing Division every year. You'll need to pay a $250 fee, provide proof of $1 million in liability insurance, and follow strict occupancy rules of no more than two adults per bedroom plus four extra guests.

At a glance

Key numbers

Permit requiredYes

Night limitNone

Primary residenceRequired

Total tax rate0.1%

Permit fee$250

Processing time2-4 weeks

4 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps

1Owner MUST be an Akron resident.
2Responsible contact person must be able to respond within 45 minutes of a complaint.
3Occupancy is strictly limited to 2 adults per bedroom plus 4 additional people.
4A $250 annual fee is required regardless of property size.

Regulation details

Sourced from official code

Eligibility6 rules

Akron requires that the property be the host's primary residence. Primary residence is defined as: Must be host's residence in the City of Akron; specifically residing 51%+ of the year.
Akron prohibits STRs in the following property types: Tents, Trailers, Temporary Housing.
Akron allows STRs in the following property types: Single Family, Multi-family, Condo, Residential Dwelling Unit.

Requirements12 rules

Akron: Hosts must report their rental activity null to the city, even if platforms collect taxes.
Akron requires liability insurance for STR hosts. Minimum coverage: $1,000,000. General liability insurance in the amount of at least one million dollars is required per Akron Code Art. 37.
Akron: Responsible contact person must be able to respond within 45 minutes of a complaint.

Application process7 rules

Akron STR permit - Step 2: Prepare Property Documentation. Gather proof of ownership, a basic floor plan showing exits and smoke detectors, and a parking diagram. Required documents: Property Deed, Floor Plan, Parking Diagram. Time: 1-2 days.

Fees & costs2 rules

Akron: A $250 annual fee is required regardless of property size.
Akron charges a registration fee of $250 (annual).

Taxes2 rules

Akron charges a Excise Tax on Lodging of 0.055%. This applies to stays under 30 days. Platforms like Airbnb collect and remit this tax. Note: Airbnb remits the 5.5% Summit County tax which serves the Akron lodging tax requirement.
Ohio has a state sales tax of 0.0575% that applies to STR rentals.

Limits & restrictions5 rules

Akron limits STRs to a maximum of 12 guests. Formula: 2 adults per sleeping room plus 4 additional persons
Akron enforces quiet hours: 10pm-7am.
Akron: Occupancy is strictly limited to 2 adults per bedroom plus 4 additional people.
Akron occupancy calculation: 2 adults per sleeping room plus 4 additional persons. Count your bedrooms to determine your max guest limit.

Safety requirements1 rule

Akron requires the following safety measures for STRs: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher, fire inspection, posted maximum occupancy, posted emergency contact, Floor plan indicating exits, Affidavit of Life Safety Compliance, Responsible person must respond within 45 minutes.

Penalties3 rules

Akron enforces the following penalties for STR violations: First offense: $100 fine or progressive citations. Second offense: Increased fines. Third offense: Potential permit revocation. Permit may be revoked for violations. Criminal penalties may apply.
Akron: Repeated violations can result in permanent permit revocation. You would lose the ability to operate any STR.

Exemptions2 rules

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

How to get permitted

Step-by-step guide for Akron

0/4

steps completed

Step 1

Register for Ohio Sales Tax

Obtain a sales tax vendor's license from the Ohio Department of Taxation to collect state and county sales taxes.

1 week$25

Documents needed

FEIN or SSN
Business Name

Official resource

Step 2

Prepare Property Documentation

Gather proof of ownership, a basic floor plan showing exits and smoke detectors, and a parking diagram.

1-2 daysFree

Documents needed

Property Deed
Floor Plan
Parking Diagram

Official resource

Step 3

Obtain $1 Million Liability Insurance

Secure a liability insurance policy covering short-term rental activity with at least $1 million in coverage.

1-3 days$500

Documents needed

Proof of Insurance

Step 4

Submit Akron STR Registration

File the annual registration application with the Department of Neighborhood Assistance Housing Division and pay the $250 fee.

2-4 weeks$250

Documents needed

Completed Application Form
Safety Affidavit
Responsible Person Contact Info

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

Akron

Strict

OhioUpdated Apr 1, 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

Akron requires short-term rental operators to register annually, pay a $250 fee, and ensure the owner is a resident of the city.

Restriction level

Severity 76

Classification

Strict

Severity

Why this classification

Primary residence required
Owner-occupied required
Standard permit fee: $250
Tenants cannot host
Permit required
Reporting required
No night cap

In plain English

What this means for you

At a glance

Key numbers

Permit requiredYes

Night limitNone

Primary residenceRequired

Total tax rate0.1%

Permit fee$250

Processing time2-4 weeks

4 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps

1Owner MUST be an Akron resident.
2Responsible contact person must be able to respond within 45 minutes of a complaint.
3Occupancy is strictly limited to 2 adults per bedroom plus 4 additional people.
4A $250 annual fee is required regardless of property size.

Regulation details

Sourced from official code

Eligibility6 rules

Akron requires that the property be the host's primary residence. Primary residence is defined as: Must be host's residence in the City of Akron; specifically residing 51%+ of the year.
Akron prohibits STRs in the following property types: Tents, Trailers, Temporary Housing.
Akron allows STRs in the following property types: Single Family, Multi-family, Condo, Residential Dwelling Unit.

Requirements12 rules

Akron: Hosts must report their rental activity null to the city, even if platforms collect taxes.
Akron requires liability insurance for STR hosts. Minimum coverage: $1,000,000. General liability insurance in the amount of at least one million dollars is required per Akron Code Art. 37.
Akron: Responsible contact person must be able to respond within 45 minutes of a complaint.

Application process7 rules

Akron STR permit - Step 2: Prepare Property Documentation. Gather proof of ownership, a basic floor plan showing exits and smoke detectors, and a parking diagram. Required documents: Property Deed, Floor Plan, Parking Diagram. Time: 1-2 days.

Fees & costs2 rules

Akron: A $250 annual fee is required regardless of property size.
Akron charges a registration fee of $250 (annual).

Taxes2 rules

Akron charges a Excise Tax on Lodging of 0.055%. This applies to stays under 30 days. Platforms like Airbnb collect and remit this tax. Note: Airbnb remits the 5.5% Summit County tax which serves the Akron lodging tax requirement.
Ohio has a state sales tax of 0.0575% that applies to STR rentals.

Limits & restrictions5 rules

Akron limits STRs to a maximum of 12 guests. Formula: 2 adults per sleeping room plus 4 additional persons
Akron enforces quiet hours: 10pm-7am.
Akron: Occupancy is strictly limited to 2 adults per bedroom plus 4 additional people.
Akron occupancy calculation: 2 adults per sleeping room plus 4 additional persons. Count your bedrooms to determine your max guest limit.

Safety requirements1 rule

Akron requires the following safety measures for STRs: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher, fire inspection, posted maximum occupancy, posted emergency contact, Floor plan indicating exits, Affidavit of Life Safety Compliance, Responsible person must respond within 45 minutes.

Penalties3 rules

Akron enforces the following penalties for STR violations: First offense: $100 fine or progressive citations. Second offense: Increased fines. Third offense: Potential permit revocation. Permit may be revoked for violations. Criminal penalties may apply.
Akron: Repeated violations can result in permanent permit revocation. You would lose the ability to operate any STR.

Exemptions2 rules

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

How to get permitted

Step-by-step guide for Akron

0/4

steps completed

Step 1

Register for Ohio Sales Tax

Obtain a sales tax vendor's license from the Ohio Department of Taxation to collect state and county sales taxes.

1 week$25

Documents needed

FEIN or SSN
Business Name

Official resource

Step 2

Prepare Property Documentation

Gather proof of ownership, a basic floor plan showing exits and smoke detectors, and a parking diagram.

1-2 daysFree

Documents needed

Property Deed
Floor Plan
Parking Diagram

Official resource

Step 3

Obtain $1 Million Liability Insurance

Secure a liability insurance policy covering short-term rental activity with at least $1 million in coverage.

1-3 days$500

Documents needed

Proof of Insurance

Step 4

Submit Akron STR Registration

File the annual registration application with the Department of Neighborhood Assistance Housing Division and pay the $250 fee.

2-4 weeks$250

Documents needed

Completed Application Form
Safety Affidavit
Responsible Person Contact Info

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

Register for Ohio Sales Tax

Prepare Property Documentation

Obtain $1 Million Liability Insurance

Submit Akron STR Registration

Frequently asked questions

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

2What is the TOT tax rate in Akron?

3Are there residency requirements for hosts in Akron?

4What are the occupancy limits for rentals in Akron?

Disclaimer

Summary

Restriction level

Why this classification

In plain English

At a glance

4 things hosts often miss

Regulation details

How to get permitted

Register for Ohio Sales Tax

Prepare Property Documentation

Obtain $1 Million Liability Insurance

Submit Akron STR Registration

Frequently asked questions

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

2What is the TOT tax rate in Akron?

3Are there residency requirements for hosts in Akron?

4What are the occupancy limits for rentals in Akron?

Disclaimer