# Short-term rental listings have declined in Lexington. What rules has the city added in recent years? **Published:** 2026-06-28T22:00:19.000Z **Source:** [CivicLex](https://news.civiclex.org/short-term-rental-listings-have-declined-in-lexington-what-rules-has-the-city-added-in-recent-years/) **Republished from:** [CivicLex](https://news.civiclex.org/short-term-rental-listings-have-declined-in-lexington-what-rules-has-the-city-added-in-recent-years/) (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0) **Canonical:** https://news.civiclex.org/short-term-rental-listings-have-declined-in-lexington-what-rules-has-the-city-added-in-recent-years/ By Aaron Mudd, [CivicLex](https://news.civiclex.org) · June 28, 2026  During its July 1st meeting, Council's General Government and Planning Committee will get an update on efforts to enforce Lexington's regulations on short-term rentals. As the presentation from Revenue Director Wes Holbrook will show, Lexington has seen the number of short-term rental listings decline in recent years. For example, when the city's compliance software first went live, it identified 1,290 short-term rental listings in Lexington. The current number has dropped to 787, the presentation states. 💼**Download:****Review the materials for this meeting [here.](https://lexington.legistar.com/View.ashx?M=AADA&ID=1352605&GUID=3F41CDD7-2BA9-41CC-98EC-A2D5F874552E&ref=news.civiclex.org)Since 2023, the city has added new licensing requirements, density restrictions and stepped up enforcement against non-compliant short-term rentals. The city is responding to complaints from residents, particularly downtown and nearby, who say there have been [too many unhosted short-term rentals](https://www.kentucky.com/news/local/counties/fayette-county/article296508879.html?ref=news.civiclex.org) in their neighborhoods. ## What rules do short-term rentals have to follow in Lexington? In July 2023, [Lexington passed a short-term rental ordinance](https://www.kentucky.com/news/local/counties/fayette-county/article276749321.html?ref=news.civiclex.org) requiring operators to license and register their units. They were given a six-month grace period to do so, according to presentation materials.Along with other permitting and licensing requirements, all short-term rental operators have to get a Special Fees License through the city's Revenue Division. The license is subject to annual renewal at $200 for the first unit and $100 for every additional unit, per the [city's website.](https://www.lexingtonky.gov/working/business-licensing-taxes/short-term-rentals-strs/short-term-rentals-licensure-requirements-permitting?ref=news.civiclex.org)Unlicensed short-term rentals can be fined up to $500 a day for non-compliance.After they're licensed, [short-term rentals are not allowed to](https://www.lexingtonky.gov/working/business-licensing-taxes/short-term-rentals-strs/short-term-rentals-community-resources?ref=news.civiclex.org): - Exceed their occupancy limit, which by local rules is currently set at 10 guests. - Host private events, such as weddings or parties, between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. - Host commercial events like concerts or ticketed events at any time, among other restrictions. The city's Revenue Division began the identification, investigation and enforcement of non-compliant operators starting in January of 2024. Later that year, it launched a new Compliance Hotline at 859-710-9048. Complaints can also be made via an online form [here](https://secure.hostcompliance.com/lexington-fayette-urban-county-ky/complaints/type?ref=news.civiclex.org), including for loud parties, parking, and other issues.In December 2024, Council amended Lexington's short-term rental ordinance to address the [density of unhosted short-term rentals](https://civiclex.org/weekly-posts/new-short-term-rental-regulations-passed-by-council?ref=news.civiclex.org) (where the operator does not live on the property). The changes implemented new restrictions, including: - New, unhosted short-term rentals cannot be located within 600 feet of another unhosted short-term rental. - New, unhosted short-term rentals cannot be approved if 2% of housing units within 1,000 are unhosted short-term rentals. That said, it also built in some exceptions to the above conditions for units directly next to commercially zoned areas.The changes also cut the maximum occupancy for short-term rentals from 12 to 10 guests.📺Watch the meeting:****The General Government and Planning Committee will meet on Wednesday, July 1st at 1 p.m. in the Government Center's second-floor Council Chamber. You can attend in-person or watch [live on LexTV.](https://www.lexingtonky.gov/government/departments-programs/chief-administrative-officer/lex-tv?mc_cid=c50b8d4040&mc_eid=bf5625796d&ref=news.civiclex.org)🫵How can you get involved?** Reach out to your Councilmember and share your thoughts on Lexington's rules for short-term rentals. You can find them [here.](https://www.lexingtonky.gov/government/office-urban-county-council/councilmembers?ref=news.civiclex.org) ## Sources - [CivicLex](https://news.civiclex.org/short-term-rental-listings-have-declined-in-lexington-what-rules-has-the-city-added-in-recent-years/)