Short-Term Rentals

All persons and/or entities owning or operating a short-term rental unit or bed and breakfast must apply annually for a short-term rental business license. A license is required for each unit (e.g., a duplex requires two licenses). Annual licenses are valid from January 1 through December 31. Licenses are non-transferable.

Short-term rentals and bed and breakfasts are defined as any dwelling, building, unit, or room offered for rent to one or more persons, for a continuous period of less than 30 days.

All required licensing fees must be paid prior to the inspections. All persons or entities owning or operating a short-term rental or bed and breakfast shall pay any bed tax required by law.

CLICK TO COMPLETE THE LICENSE APPLICATION OR PAY FEES OR BED TAX

 

Permit Process

Dear Short Term Rental Owners,

In order to assist you in the license application process for your short-term rental, we have provided the following step-by-step procedures to obtain the required short-term rental license for the Village of Buckeye Lake.

1. Go to the Village of Buckeye Lake website, buckeyelakevillage.com and locate the “Short-Term Rentals” under the Government tab at the top of the page and click on it. Once you have clicked on it, follow the directions for completing a license application and uploading all required documentation (#2-#4) through the IWorq portal. You may also pick up an application packet at the Village Office and attach the required documents (#2-#4) to the application. The application/initial license fee needs to be paid at the time the application is submitted. The Code Enforcement officer will contact you to schedule the required inspections.

2. Have a licensed electrician or certified home inspector complete an electrical safety inspection of the unit within the last 12 months and obtain a signed and dated report/certification that includes the inspector or electrician’s certification or license number. The report must state what was inspected, any repairs that were needed, and statement that the unit passed after necessary repairs were made. The completed report must be furnished to the Village.

3. Obtain an insurance declaration page showing that a liability insurance policy of a minimum of Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000.00) for each unit is maintained, and such document must be furnished to the Village.

4. Provide documentation for all hosting platform(s) where the owner/applicant has successfully registered to list the unit and showing that required ordinances have been referenced in any advertisement. (Example wording for advertisement(s) “All Short-Term Rentals in the Village of Buckeye Lake are governed under Ordinance #2024-22)

5. Purchase and install the required “Knox Homebox” near the main entrance of the unit. The correct application can be obtained at the Village offices. (See the attached information sheet on the Knox Homebox.) (The Knox Box must be installed prior to the fire inspection and a spare entry key to the unit must available during the fire inspection for the Knox Homebox.)

6. Check to ensure unit complies with the fire inspection check list provided; keep checklist for your reference.

7. Inspections required will be scheduled once all documents are received and checked and fees have been paid.

8. The Buckeye Lake Fire Chief or Fire Inspector will contact the applicant to schedule the required fire inspection and determine the maximum occupancy permitted. Do not contact the fire department directly, the fire inspector will contact you.

9. Once the fire inspection is completed and the unit is approved by the Fire Chief or Fire Inspector, the Buckeye Lake Code Enforcement Officer will contact the applicant to schedule the final inspection and issue the short-term rental license sticker which must be posted on a window near the main entrance.

10. Application with required documentation can be submitted to the Village of Buckeye Lake offices located at 5192 Walnut Rd. Buckeye Lake, OH 43008 and annual license fees and required bed taxes can be paid online or at the Village offices.


The Village of Buckeye Lake staff appreciate your patience with the process and would like to welcome you to the Village of Buckeye Lake community.

CLICK TO SEE SHORT-TERM RENTAL ORDINANCE 2024-22