WAVERLY, Ohio (December 1, 2023) — Beginning on January 1, 2024, new changes to the Pike County Hotel Lodging Tax Code of Regulations will go into effect. A resolution approved by the County Commissioners will update language involving lodging tax in Pike County to become consistent with statewide regulations in the Ohio Revised Code (ORC).

Under the previous code of regulations, adopted in 1997, lodging tax was only applicable to accommodations having “four (4) or more rooms.” Under the amended language, and pursuant to ORC 5739.091, lodging tax will be now applicable to accommodations with “any number of rooms” in 2024.

In the United States, lodging tax is a form of sales tax paid by the consumer only on transient (30 days or less) travel accommodations, like a hotel, cabin, hunting cabin, and other popular short-term rentals like an Airbnb or VRBO. Under the new regulations, all transient accommodations in Pike County will be required to collect lodging tax.

In most communities, local lodging tax is utilized to fund local tourism operations. In Pike County, it funds the tourism budget through the Pike County Chamber of Commerce & Tourism. It is utilized to market, assist, and develop the local tourism and hospitality industry, and to promote Pike County as a place to live, work, learn, and visit.

The biggest change with the new regulations will be for short term rentals like local Airbnb’s, VRBO’s, and other vacation homes. They will be required to collect and remit lodging tax like the county’s multiple hotels, motels, and cabin establishments like Long’s Retreat and Pike Lake State Park. The Pike County Chamber & Tourism see’s this as a great opportunity for growth in local tourism spending.

“Having everyone included into the system allows us to better promote the lodging opportunities that we have in Pike County,” says Chandler Grooms, Tourism Development Director. “We have some great local entrepreneurs that are creating amazing places to stay for visitors on sites like Airbnb. As they begin to contribute to the lodging tax collections, we’ll be able to better support their efforts and help market the unique and travel-worthy accommodations they’re creating for visitors.”

According to Grooms, local short-term rental owners shouldn’t worry too much about the process. “It’s an easy one. Once registered with us and the auditor’s office, there will be a monthly report form that is turned in with the previous month’s collections. It will be the same process that our hotels and motels have been doing since 1997.”

Pike County will now join many other counties across the state who have adopted this new change to local lodging tax, like Ross County who made the change a few years ago. The growth and success of the short-term rental business in Ross County and Chillicothe provides high hopes for growth in here as well. “While I don’t think we’ll ever have to worry about being overfilled with cabins like Hocking Hills,” says Grooms, “it’s still important for us to be prepared and to have partners ready for continued growth in the lodging business in Pike County.”

To learn more about the new changes and requirements, information and forms can be found on the county tourism website at www.visitpike.com/lodgingtax. Forms are also available on the Auditor’s website at www.pikeauditoroh.org. Short term rental owners and prospective owners are encouraged to reach out to Chandler Grooms via email at chandler@visitpike.com or via message to the Visit Pike County Facebook page.