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.

Permit Process

Dear Short-Term Rental Owners,

In order to assist you in the license application process, 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, www.buckeyelakevillage.com and locate the “Short-Term Rental” at the top of the page and click on it or you can find the same tab under the Quick Links tab. Once you have clicked on it, follow the directions for completing a license application through the iWorq portal.

  2. Purchase and install the required “Knox Homebox” near the main entrance of the unit. (See the attached information sheet via this link: Knox Homebox.) (Have a key to the unit available during the fire inspection for the Knox Homebox)

  3. Have a licensed electrician or certified home inspector complete an electrical safety inspection of the unit within the last 12 months and obtain a report/certification that the unit passed.

  4. Obtain an insurance deck sheet or declaration page showing that a liability insurance policy of a minimum of Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000.00) for each unit is maintained.

  5. 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 Ordinances #2022-56, #2023-27 and #2023-60.

  6. Check to ensure unit complies with the fire inspection. Check list provided.

  7. Submit completed application with required documentation to the Village of Buckeye Lake offices located at 5192 Walnut Rd. Buckeye Lake, OH 43008 and pay fees.

    The Buckeye Lake Fire Chief or Fire Inspector will contact the applicant to schedule the required fire inspection and determine the maximum occupancy permitted.

    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.

    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.