Stark County Lodging Tax for Hotels and Short-Term Rentals
Who collects Stark County’s 6% lodging tax, how hotels and motels file it each quarter, and what short-term rental hosts should check.
Stark County charges a 6% lodging tax on hotel and motel stays by transient guests. Each hotel and motel collects it from guests and sends it to the Stark County Auditor every quarter with the county’s Motel Return Form. Under Ohio law, a “hotel” for this tax has five or more guest rooms and a “transient guest” stays less than 30 days in a row. Most of the money goes to the Stark County Convention and Visitors Bureau.
| Rate | 6% of the room charge |
|---|---|
| Who collects | Each hotel and motel in Stark County |
| Who pays | Transient guests: stays of less than 30 consecutive days |
| Filing | Quarterly, to the Stark County Auditor, on the Motel Return Form |
| Where it goes | After administration and a share for municipalities, to the Stark County Convention and Visitors Bureau |
| Auditor’s office | 110 Central Plaza South, Suite 220, Canton, OH 44702 · (330) 451-7357 |
Sources: Stark County Auditor, Lodging Tax and Ohio Revised Code 5739.01 (definitions), checked Sep 27, 2026.
Stark County Motel Return Form
The quarterly return hotels and motels file with the Auditor, on the county’s Lodging Tax page. Opens in a new tab.
Who has to collect it
The county’s page puts the duty on “each hotel and motel in Stark County.” Two definitions in Ohio law decide who that covers:
- Hotel: any place offering sleeping accommodations to guests “in which five or more rooms are used” for guests, whether in one building or several (Ohio Revised Code 5739.01).
- Transient guest: someone who stays for less than 30 consecutive days. Longer stays aren’t taxed as transient lodging.
Hotels, motels, inns and larger bed-and-breakfasts fit these definitions. A guest who books a room for a month or more generally doesn’t pay the tax.
Short-term rentals
If you host on Airbnb, Vrbo or similar sites, the answer depends on your property:
- Fewer than five guest rooms: most single homes and apartments are below Ohio’s five-room definition of a hotel. The county’s page doesn’t mention short-term rentals, so ask the Auditor’s office whether the county tax applies to you.
- Five or more rooms used for guests, in one building or several: you likely fall under the hotel definition and should file.
- Platforms: as of September 2026, Airbnb’s list of Ohio places where it collects and pays lodging tax for hosts didn’t include Stark County or its cities. Don’t assume the platform is filing for you.
Ohio cities and townships can levy their own lodging tax, filed with them rather than the county. Check with your city or township as well.
How to file
- Charge 6% on each transient guest’s room charge.
- Keep records of room revenue and tax collected for each quarter.
- Complete the Motel Return Form from the county’s Lodging Tax page at the end of each quarter.
- Send the return and payment to the Stark County Auditor, 110 Central Plaza South, Suite 220, Canton, OH 44702.
- Room charges, 3 × $150
- $450.00
- County lodging tax, 6%
- $27.00
This covers the county lodging tax only. Any city lodging tax and state taxes are separate.
Where the money goes
The county says the tax is distributed this way: 3% is withheld for administrative fees, 1% goes to municipalities, and the remainder goes to the Stark County Convention and Visitors Bureau, which promotes tourism in the county.
Ohio law requires county lodging tax money to support the convention and visitors bureau or certain other visitor-related uses (Ohio Revised Code 5739.09). The bureau is at 227 Second St. NW, Canton, OH 44702, (330) 454-1439.
Common mistakes
- Taxing monthly stays. Guests staying 30 days or more in a row aren’t transient.
- Assuming a platform files for you. Check before you stop collecting.
- Mixing up county and city taxes. They’re filed separately.
- Missing a quarter. Returns are due every quarter, even if collections were small.
Frequently asked questions
What is the lodging tax rate in Stark County, Ohio?
6% of the room charge for transient guests, collected by hotels and motels and sent to the Stark County Auditor each quarter.
Do Airbnb hosts in Stark County pay lodging tax?
It depends on the property. Ohio's definition of a hotel covers places with five or more guest rooms. The county's page mentions only hotels and motels, so hosts with smaller rentals should ask the Auditor's office. As of September 2026, Airbnb didn't list Stark County among the Ohio places where it collects lodging tax.
How often do hotels file the Stark County lodging tax?
Quarterly. At the end of each quarter, hotels and motels send the tax they collected to the Stark County Auditor with the Motel Return Form.
Who is a transient guest?
Under Ohio law, someone occupying a room for less than 30 consecutive days.
Where does Stark County lodging tax money go?
According to the county, 3% is withheld for administration, 1% goes to municipalities and the remainder goes to the Stark County Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Next steps
- Selling goods too?Vendor’s license guide
- Long-term rentalsRental registration
- Contact the AuditorOffice hours and phones
Sources
- Stark County Auditor, Lodging Tax (rate, quarterly filing, distribution, form, visitors bureau)
- Ohio Revised Code 5739.01 (hotel and transient guest definitions)
- Ohio Revised Code 5739.09 (county lodging taxes)
- Airbnb Help Center, Ohio occupancy tax collection
All sources checked Sep 27, 2026.
Stark Auditor Guide is an independent guide published by Abu Hurera LLC. It is not the Stark County Auditor’s office. Always confirm deadlines and amounts with the official office before you act.