Short Term Rental FAQ
Short-term rentals play an important role in welcoming visitors to Cynthiana and supporting our local economy. To help hosts feel confident, informed, and fully supported, we’ve put together this Short-Term Rental Compliance FAQ. Here you’ll find simple, straightforward answers about registration, taxes, benefits, and what it means to be a Verified Cynthiana Host. Our goal is to make the process easy, positive, and transparent so you can enjoy hosting while helping our community continue to grow.
1. Why do short-term rentals need to register?
All STRs (Airbnb, VRBO, direct booking, etc.) are required by Harrison County to register for transient room tax.
This helps:
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Ensure fairness among all hosts
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Support local tourism efforts
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Fund events and improvements that draw visitors
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Give the county an accurate picture of lodging supply
Registration is quick and ensures you’re fully compliant.
2. What benefits do I receive when I register?
Registered hosts get access to:
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Featured listing on cynthianatourism.com and the City of Cynthiana page
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Eligibility for tourism marketing & promotion
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Updates about major events, tourism demand, and booking trends
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Access to the STR Host Network (free resources + education)
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Seasonal pricing and occupancy tips based on tourism data
Registration brings visibility and support, not just compliance.
3. How do I know if I'm required to register?
You must register if you:
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Rent a home, room, suite, cabin, or studio
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Rent on Airbnb, VRBO, or any platform
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Rent directly (Word-of-mouth, Facebook, etc.)
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Even if you rent for less than 30 days at a time
Even occasional rentals count.
4. What is the transient room tax?
It’s a small percentage added to each booking (just like hotel taxes).
This revenue supports:
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Festivals & events
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Downtown improvements
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River & park enhancements
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Community marketing
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Tourism grants & incentives
You’re not paying this tax personally- your guest is. You simply remit it.
5. How do I collect and submit the taxes?
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AirBnB and VRBO often requires hosts to collect and remit manually
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Direct-booking hosts must collect it themselves
The county provides a simple monthly or quarterly form.
It only takes a few minutes.
6. What happens if I don't register?
We always start with friendly, educational outreach because many new hosts aren’t aware of the requirement.
If a host remains unregistered, eventually the county may:
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Require back-payment of taxes
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Issue fines or penalties
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Remove eligibility for marketing and STR programs.
We’d much rather help you register than enforce anything.
Compliance protects you.
7. Is my information public?
No.
Registration is an internal process.
Your private information is not posted anywhere.
8. Does registering trigger inspections?
No.
This is a tax compliance process, not a code enforcement inspection.
Registering does not initiate inspections or property reviews.
9. How long does registration take?
Usually 5–10 minutes.
We can walk you through it step by step.
10. I'm not sure if I'm already registered. How can I check?
11. What if I'm thinking about becoming a host?
Great!
We can help you estimate earning potential using our data, recommend pricing strategies, and answer any questions about:
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zoning
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taxes
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best practices
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guest amenities
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safety tips
We want you to succeed.
12. What if I rent only during special events or holidays?
You still must register- even for periodic rentals.
Any STR rented for less than 30 days is subject to the same rules.
13. Will registering cost me anything?
No registration fee.
The only payment is the transient tax collected from guests, not from you.
14. Who can help me if I have questions?
I can!
My role is to support hosts and make the process simple.
Contact:
Sam Lunger
Director of Tourism
Cynthiana–Harrison County Tourism