General Information
Across Oxford there are more than 1,600 residential rental structures comprising nearly 5,000 individual rental units. While a substantial share of these units serve students attending Miami University, many also accommodate permanent residents and families. For decades, the City has maintained a permit and inspection program applicable to all residential rental units, regardless of tenant status.
Rental Permits
The same permit application process applies to all dwelling units, no matter whether rented out for long-term leases or short-term stays. The duration of leases/stays may vary for a single dwelling unit throughout the year, so long as the unit remains compliant with all applicable standards. Inspections are required every 18-24 months to check for property maintenance compliance, excepting fraternity houses which are inspected annually.
Learn more about Rental Permits
Transient Guest Lodging
A dwelling unit rented to guests for less than 30 consecutive days at a time is considered Transient Guest Lodging (i.e. a "Short-Term Rental"). Under the local Zoning Code, these types of stays are restricted to occur only in single-family, two-family, and three-family dwellings, and up to no more than 90 total days per structure per year. A valid Rental Permit is required in order to operate transient guest lodging out of a dwelling unit. Additionally, lodging tax is required to be remitted to the City when operating a Short-Term Rental.
In contrast, a dwelling unit rented to a tenant for a term of 30 consecutive days or greater is considered a long-term or "conventional" rental. A valid Rental Permit is required in order to operate. Any existing dwelling unit within the city limits is eligible for application to become a long-term rental, provided the property and unit can demonstrate compliance with local property maintenance requirements.
Learn more about Transient Guest Lodging
Approved Rentals
Potential tenants, prospective buyers, and other interested parties can discern whether a particular residential rental unit is up-to-date on its inspections by searching monthly Rental Properties Reports and Rental Unit Reports found on the Data & Reports webpage, or by using the interactive Rentals Dashboard. In addition to these methods, any interested person may contact the Community Development Department at 513-524-5209 to inquire as to whether a particular address/property is properly permitted to be rented to residential tenants and is in good standing in terms of inspections.