🎯 STRisker: Bulletin - Bowling Green, OH
Bowling Green Adopts First Short‑Term Rental Ordinance: New rules require registration, inspections, and hotel‑motel tax payments
City Council Adopts Short‑Term Rental Ordinance
Photo by toledoregion.com
Bowling Green City Council has adopted its first ordinance regulating short‑term rental (STR) properties, aiming to make them more “neighborly” toward long‑term residents.
The ordinance requires STRs to:
Pay the city’s hotel‑motel tax, with revenue deposited into the general fund.
Register with the city and undergo inspections.
Submit an annual $150 registration fee.
Maintain fully functional safety equipment, including smoke alarms, carbon monoxide detectors, and fire extinguishers.
Limit occupancy to two people per bedroom plus three additional occupants, with this posted inside each rental.
Designate an authorized agent within 35 miles of Bowling Green, available 24/7 as a contact.
Council members added amendments requiring owners to advise renters to use off‑street parking before on‑street spaces, and prohibiting unlawful discrimination by STR owners.
🎤 Community Feedback
Council members said the ordinance responds to constituent concerns about STRs disrupting neighborhoods. Kathleen Dennis noted that nearly 50 STR properties were listed on Airbnb and Vrbo, many converted from owner‑occupied homes. “This is a business they are running, which should be regulated,” she said.
Residents voiced unease about rapid turnover of guests. Council member Joel O’Dorisio explained: “People are unsettled by having short‑term rentals in their neighborhood. The turnover is rapid and unsettling, unlike regular rentals where neighbors get to know the renters next door.”
Councilwoman Kathleen Dennis added that parking was a recurring complaint, prompting the amendment encouraging off‑street use. “This encourages good neighborliness,” she said.
Jan Larson McLaughlin
🏠Housing & Enforcement
The ordinance defines STRs as any room or dwelling rented for fewer than 30 days by someone other than the permanent occupant or owner.
Violations will carry penalties for:
Noise audible beyond property boundaries.
Occupancy exceeding posted limits.
Renters trespassing on adjoining private property.
Violations of nuisance party regulations.
City Attorney Hunter Brown clarified that while owners can advise renters about parking, the city cannot legally restrict on‑street use. Enforcement will focus on safety, occupancy, and nuisance violations.
👨 Board & Leadership Response
Council members emphasized that the ordinance balances property rights with neighborhood stability. Bill Herald requested the anti‑discrimination amendment, ensuring STR owners cannot unlawfully restrict renters.
Council members said the ordinance reflects months of discussion and constituent feedback. Jeff Dennis summarized the community’s concerns: “They don’t know who’s going to be there week to week.”
City looks into regulating short-term rentals https://t.co/3pXCrmoYpc
— Sentinel-Tribune (@sentineltribune) April 21, 2026
đź“ŤRegional Context
Bowling Green joins a growing list of municipalities adopting STR regulations to address neighborhood concerns. While larger cities have imposed stricter caps or bans, Bowling Green’s ordinance focuses on licensing, safety, and accountability rather than limiting numbers outright.
By requiring inspections, safety equipment, and local agents, the city aims to ensure STRs operate responsibly while contributing tax revenue.
➡️Looking Ahead
The ordinance marks Bowling Green’s first step into regulating STRs. With nearly 50 properties already operating, officials say the new rules will help balance tourism and housing stability.
Council members acknowledged that enforcement will be key, but believe the ordinance sets clear expectations for owners and renters alike. As Kathleen Dennis put it: “This encourages good neighborliness.”
Social Listening 🎧: Podcast
Policy talk doesn’t just happen in the news cycle—it can also live in long-form audio. STRisker’s Podcast Signal turns hours of episodes into actionable insight, indexing transcripts so you can surface key mentions of STRs, ordinances, and local decision-makers in seconds.
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