Short-Term Rental Laws in Kent, Connecticut

Kent is a small Litchfield County town (population ~2,979) with no dedicated STR ordinance and no STR permit requirement. STR is permitted by right wherever residential use is permitted under the Kent Planning & Zoning Regulations — broadly across all residential zones. The Town's tourism economy (Kent School, Appalachian Trail, Housatonic Valley scenic district) supports a permissive posture. Regulation falls back to existing residential zoning + CT State Department of Revenue Services 15% room occupancy tax + standard Building Code for life-safety. Litchfield County (Kent, Salisbury, Cornwall, Sharon, Washington, Litchfield, Lakeville) is broadly the most STR-friendly CT region with minimal municipal regulation.

CT Department of Revenue Services administers the 15% state room occupancy tax — register via the myconneCT portal with monthly remittance. No Kent municipal STR permit required (as of 2026); compliance is primarily state tax + Town zoning + building code. Operating without DRS registration: back-tax + per-month penalty. Town Zoning Enforcement Officer handles complaint-driven enforcement; the Town's small size and active Town Meeting governance means any future STR ordinance debate would be visible in public Town Meeting minutes. HOA covenants (where applicable) and Kent School-adjacent property restrictions are the more consequential layers in practice.

Combined short-term lodging tax in Kent is approximately 15.000% of gross nightly revenue (state sales + state TRT + local TRT + applicable resort/city options).

CT State room occupancy tax 15% (no county or municipal lodging tax layer) on transient lodging

Verify the current combined rate via the Utah State Tax Commission before remitting — rates drift quarterly.