Short Term Rental Tax

ZANESVILLE, Ohio – Tourism draws more than $270 Million Dollars in revenue to Muskingum County annually and that figure doesn’t count many of the Air BNB and small cabin rentals that are available. 

Muskingum County Convention Facilities Authority Executive Director Stephanie Winland met with the Muskingum County Commissioners to discuss a resolution that would more accurately account for those Short Term Rentals.

“Currently in Muskingum County, any property that has 5 beds or over is required to collect bed-tax,” Winland said. “There’s been an explosion of short term rentals in Muskingum County and we would like to amend that resolution to be 4 beds and under. So that they would also be participating in bed-tax. So they’ll not only be subject to bed-tax but also sales tax in Muskingum County.”

Bed-tax revenues are used specifically to promote local tourism by marketing many of the venues and events that attract tourists. Several counties across the state have already passed legislation that calls for the Short Term Rentals to collect and remit bed and sales taxes.   

“It evens the playing field for our larger operators,” Winland said. “So if a tourist is looking at either staying in a hotel or staying in a private BNB, the rates will be comparable. Not to mention that they will also then be regulated when it comes to health and safety. All sorts of things the hotel is now responsible to ensure is safe for a guest, the same will happen with a BNB.”

Short Term Rental legislation has already been introduced at the state house and Winland along with the Convention and Visitors Bureau are asking the commissioners to take proactive measures that would prevent the loss of tourism revenues.