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  1. Home
  2. ·
  3. Regulations
  4. ·
  5. Ohio
  6. ·
  7. Findlay

Findlay

Permissive
OhioUpdated Apr 9, 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

Findlay currently has no specific short-term rental (STR) ordinance or permit requirements, operating under general zoning and building codes.

Restriction level

Severity 3
Classification
Permissive
3
Severity

Why this classification

  • Reporting required
  • No STR-specific permit required
  • No night cap
  • No primary residence requirement
  • No STR-specific fee
  • Tenants can host

In plain English

What this means for you

As of early 2024, there are no special registration fees or permits required to host a short-term rental in Findlay. However, hosts are responsible for collecting and remitting a combined 6% lodging tax and 6.75% sales tax, and must report rental income for the 1% municipal income tax.

At a glance

Key numbers
Permit requiredNo
Night limitNone
Primary residenceNot required
Total tax rate0.1%
Permit fee$0

3 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps
  1. 1Combined tax rate is high (12.75%) due to overlapping state, county, and city layers.
  2. 2Municipal income tax (1%) applies to all rental income earned within city limits regardless of residency.
  3. 3Hancock County and the City of Findlay each levy a 3% lodging tax separately.

Regulation details

Sourced from official code
Eligibility5 rules
  • Findlay: You can have a co-host or property manager help manage your listing.
  • Findlay does NOT require the property to be a primary residence. Investment properties are allowed.
  • Findlay: Your HOA can prohibit short-term rentals even if the city allows them. Check your CC&Rs before applying.
  • Findlay allows STRs in the following property types: Single Family, Multi-Family, Condo, Townhouse.
Requirements8 rules
  • Findlay STR warning: Hancock County and the City of Findlay each levy a 3% lodging tax separately.
  • Findlay: Hosts must report their rental activity quarterly to the city, even if platforms collect taxes.
  • Findlay does not require liability insurance for STR hosts, but it is strongly recommended.
  • Findlay does not require STR registration.
Application process5 rules
  • How to set up an STR in Findlay: As of early 2024, there are no special registration fees or permits required to host a short-term rental in Findlay. However, hosts are responsible for collecting and remitting a combined 6% lodging tax and 6.75% sales tax, and must report rental income for the 1% municipal income tax.
Taxes4 rules
  • Ohio has a state sales tax of 0.0575% that applies to STR rentals.
  • Findlay: Combined tax rate is high (12.75%) due to overlapping state, county, and city layers.
Limits & restrictions4 rules
  • Findlay occupancy calculation: Subject to fire code occupancy limits. Count your bedrooms to determine your max guest limit.
  • Findlay limits stays to a maximum of 29 nights.
  • Findlay enforces quiet hours: 10pm-7am.
  • Findlay: Municipal income tax (1%) applies to all rental income earned within city limits regardless of residency.
Safety requirements1 rule
  • Findlay requires the following safety measures for STRs: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher.
Penalties1 rule
  • Findlay enforces the following penalties for STR violations: First offense: Warning. Second offense: Varies. Third offense: Varies.
Exemptions2 rules
  • Findlay: Rentals of 30+ days are generally NOT considered short-term rentals and may be exempt from STR regulations (but may have other requirements).
  • Findlay exempts the following from STR regulations: long-term rentals (30+ days), extended stays.

How to get permitted

Step-by-step guide for Findlay

0/3
steps completed
Step 1

Verify Zoning

Confirm your property is in a zone that allows residential rentals by contacting the Findlay Zoning Office.

1 dayFree
Official resource
Step 2

Register for State Sales Tax

Obtain a vendor's license from the Ohio Department of Taxation if you are renting out rooms in an establishment with 5 or more rooms, or to facilitate tax remittance if not handled by your platform.

1 week$25
Documents needed
  • Business Entity Info
  • SSN/EIN
Official resource
Step 3

Account for Local Income Tax

Ensure you report your rental income on your annual City of Findlay income tax return (1% rate).

AnnualFree
Documents needed
  • Federal Schedule E
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

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