Bentonville Bed and Breakfast and Short-Term Lodging Regulations

In the City of Bentonville, bed and breakfasts—defined as owner-occupied short-term lodging for up to 21 days—are permitted by right in all Commercial (C) and Downtown (D) districts. In Agricultural (A), Residential (R), and Downtown Neighborhood (DN) districts, the City of Bentonville requires a Conditional Use Permit for these establishments. All such uses are limited to a maximum of five guest rooms and must meet specific parking and residency standards.

Definitions and General Requirements

The City of Bentonville classifies short-term rentals under the category of Lodging, Bed and Breakfast. According to the City of Bentonville Zoning Code, a Bed and Breakfast is an owner-occupied dwelling unit containing no more than five guest rooms. Short-term lodging is explicitly defined as a period not exceeding 21 days [Section 201.02].

Crucially, the City of Bentonville prohibits bed and breakfasts from being operated as a "Home Occupation" [Section 601.12]. Instead, they must be permitted as a specific lodging use according to the Table of Uses.

Permitted Zoning Districts

The following table outlines where the City of Bentonville allows bed and breakfasts and the level of approval required:

District Type	Specific Zoning Districts	Permission Level
Agricultural	A-1	Conditional Use Permit (C)
Residential	RE, R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, R-C2, R-C3, R-MH, R-ZL, R-O	Conditional Use Permit (C)
Downtown Neighborhood	DN-1, DN-2, DN-3, DN-4	Conditional Use Permit (C)
Commercial	C-1, C-2, C-3	Permitted by Right (●)
Downtown	DC (Core), DE (Edge)	Permitted by Right (●)

Note: A Conditional Use Permit requires approval from the Bentonville Planning Commission [Section 301.06].

Development and Operational Standards

All bed and breakfasts in the City of Bentonville must adhere to strict operational requirements to ensure they remain compatible with the surrounding neighborhood [Section 601.05]:

Owner Occupancy: The owner of the property must reside on-site in either the primary or a secondary dwelling.
Guest Limitations: Stays are limited to a maximum of five consecutive nights for any one guest.
Employee Limits: No more than two outside employees are permitted to operate the business.
Cooking Facilities: No individual cooking facilities are allowed in the guest rooms.
Signage: One non-illuminated sign is permitted, provided it does not exceed eight square feet per side and four feet in height.
Safety: Every sleeping room must have a working smoke detector, and a fire extinguisher must be present on every floor.

Parking Requirements

The City of Bentonville imposes specific off-street parking ratios for bed and breakfast establishments to prevent traffic congestion in residential areas. While the general parking table and the specific use standards contain slight variations, the more specific use standard typically prevails.

Requirement Item	Bentonville Parking Standard
Base Parking	2 spaces per dwelling unit
Guest Parking	1 space for each guest room available for rental
Paving	All parking spaces must be paved

[Section 501.06, Section 601.05]

Conditional Use Permit Criteria

When a bed and breakfast is proposed in a district requiring a Conditional Use Permit (such as R-1 or DN-1), the Bentonville Planning Commission evaluates the application based on the following [Section 301.06]:

Safety and Welfare: The use must be operated so that public health and safety are protected.
Compatibility: The use must be compatible with other area properties located near it.
Impact Mitigation: The Commission may impose conditions to reduce injurious effects, such as limiting hours of operation or requiring specific screening.

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