Rev 03/11/2020
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY
LICENSE SECTION
SHORT-TERM RENTAL
INFORMATION SHEET
•
Short-Term Rental Application (Attached)
•
Proof of Identity: (i.e., State Issued Driver’s License/I.D. Card, Passport, Military I.D., Government Issued I.D.)
•
Primary Residency Requirement: A copy of the lease/rental contract that allows Short Term Rentals and
two documents proving primary residence (i.e., Motor Vehicle Registration, Tax Documents, or Utility Bill).
•
Proof of General Liability Insurance:
o
Minim
um of $300,000 of General Liability and must contain an endorsement providing a 10
day
notice
of
c
ancellation
or
change to the City of Columbus - License Section, 4252 Groves Rd,
Columbus, Ohio 43232. Such policy or certificate must be issued by an Insurance Company that
is admitted to
do business in the State of Ohio.
•
Letter of Good Standing from the City Tax Division:
o
To expedite the process, the applicant may contact the Tax Division at 614-645-7370. The
Letter of Good standing must be for the Primary Resident
or Owner Applicant.
•
The names of all hosting platforms that the applicant has successfully been registered to list a
short-term rental and documentation confirming hosting platform registration(s).
Provide a copy of the land contract, only if it has been executed on the location by the property owner
that separates the owner from control over the the short-term rental property.
•
•
BCI Background Check Requirements:
o
o
o
Note: A Columbus City Code 598 change went into effect on 02/27/2020 requiring:
That a BCI background check be performed by a provider approved by the Ohio Bureau of Criminal
Investigation be submitted by the applicant, the 24-hour emergency contact, and the property manager (if
one is used). For all business organization applicants, an individual who is either the statutory agent, a
partner or the president must submit to and provide the results of a BCI background check.
o
Application fee - $20.00
Primary Residence Permit fee - $75.00
Non-Primary Residence Permit fee - $150.00
City of Columbus-License Section
4252 Groves Rd
Columbus, OH 43232
Monday - Friday
8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Management Company Requirements:
A Management Company that rents or leases the property cannot apply for a permit in the
Management Company's name, because the Management Company is not an owner or permanent
occupant of the property. If a Management Company comes in to apply, the Management Company
must either own the property or apply on behalf of the Property Owner or Primary Resident as the
Property Owner’s
or Primary Resident's duly authorized agent.
Other Applicant Requirements:
Provide a list of names and addresses of any other short-term rental located in the City of Columbus
that the applicant or property owner has any interest in, including but not limited to ownership,
licensure or management.
o
o
For additional information please review Columbus City Code 598.
For your convenience a BCI background check can be completed at the License Section at the time the
completed application and required paperwork are submitted (Cost $32.00).
To do this the Management Company must produce a signed and notarized document from the
Property Owner or Primary Resident authorizing the Management Company to act on the Property
Owner’s or Primary Resident's behalf regarding Short Term Rental. The document must list the
location(s) of the Short Term Rental(s). A lease agreement would not be sufficient for this document.
Note: The Property Owner or Primary Resident must still submit to and provide the BCI Background
Check Requirement that is listed below.
