Boone County - Unincorporated
Indianapolis area Airbnb and short term rental laws.
Renting the home you live in: Zoning approval required
Renting a home you don’t live in: Zoning approval required
Boone County treats Airbnbs like bed and breakfasts. You need a special exception and a site plan, and the owner must live there.
Where rentals are allowed
Boone County has no short term rental rules. County staff treat Airbnbs as bed and breakfasts. A bed and breakfast needs a special exception and a development plan in the AG, R1, R2, R3, R4, MF, AB, LB, GB, and UB zones.
Caps
A bed and breakfast can have up to 7 guest rooms. It can add 1 room for each 10,000 square feet over 1 acre, up to 10 rooms. It must be a detached single family home on a paved public road.
Safety and inspections
The County Health Department must review the septic system. County staff visit the site to check exits and smoke detectors.
Parking, trash, and noise
Screen extra trash storage with a 6 foot fence or wall. No retail sales on site. Serve meals only to family, staff, and guests. Provide 1 parking space per sleeping room.
Last changed
December 19, 2025
Official rules
More information
- Boone County Zoning Ordinance use table: Where bed and breakfasts go
- Bed and breakfast use standards: Rooms, trash, parking rules
- Bed and breakfast definition: Operator lives there
- BZA case 26CE-7-190: Airbnb treated as bed and breakfast