Short-Term Rental Requirements by City

Covering 49 cities across 29 states with 1,176 city-to-city comparisons. Permits, taxes, day limits, and fines — verified against official .gov sources.

Disclaimer: General information only — not legal advice. Verify with your local government.

Showing 49 of 49 cities
CityStatus
Asheville, North CarolinaRestricted
Atlanta, Georgia(WC)Legal with Permit
Austin, TexasLegal but Limited
Baltimore, MarylandLegal but Limited
Boston, Massachusetts(WC)Legal but Limited
Charleston, South CarolinaRestricted
Charlotte, North CarolinaLegal with Permit
Chicago, IllinoisLegal but Limited
Columbus, OhioLegal with Permit
Dallas, Texas(WC)Restricted
Denver, ColoradoLegal with Permit
Detroit, MichiganLegal but Limited
Fort Lauderdale, FloridaLegal with Permit
Gatlinburg, TennesseeLegal with Permit
Honolulu, HawaiiRestricted
Houston, Texas(WC)Legal with Permit
Indianapolis, IndianaLegal with Permit
Jersey City, New JerseyRestricted
Kansas City, Missouri(WC)Legal with Permit
Key West, FloridaRestricted
Las Vegas, NevadaLegal but Limited
Los Angeles, California(WC)Legal but Limited
Maui County, HawaiiEffectively Banned
Miami, Florida(WC)Restricted
Milwaukee, WisconsinLegal with Permit
Minneapolis, MinnesotaLegal with Permit
Nashville, TennesseeLegal but Limited
New Orleans, LouisianaRestricted
New York City, New York(WC)Effectively Banned
Orlando, FloridaRestricted
Palm Springs, CaliforniaLegal but Limited
Park City, UtahLegal with Permit
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania(WC)Legal with Permit
Phoenix, ArizonaLegal with Permit
Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaLegal with Permit
Portland, OregonLegal but Limited
Raleigh, North CarolinaLegal with Permit
Sacramento, CaliforniaLegal with Permit
Salt Lake City, UtahEffectively Banned
San Antonio, Texas(WC)Legal with Permit
San Diego, CaliforniaLegal with Permit
San Francisco, California(WC)Legal but Limited
Santa Fe, New MexicoLegal but Limited
Savannah, GeorgiaLegal with Permit
Scottsdale, ArizonaLegal with Permit
Seattle, Washington(WC)Legal with Permit
Sedona, ArizonaLegal with Permit
Tampa, FloridaLegal with Permit
Washington DC, District of ColumbiaLegal but Limited

Understanding Short-Term Rental Regulations in the US

Short-term rental (STR) regulations in the United States are set at the city level, creating a patchwork of rules that varies dramatically from one municipality to the next. Whether you're listing on Airbnb, VRBO, Booking.com, or any other vacation rental platform, understanding your local permit requirements, tax obligations, and zoning restrictions is essential to operating legally and avoiding costly fines.

Across the 49 cities in our database, the regulatory landscape breaks down as follows: 24 cities allow short-term rentals with a straightforward permit, 13 cities allow them with significant limitations, 9 cities have heavy restrictions, and 3 cities have effectively banned most forms of short-term renting. 9 cities impose annual day limits on how many nights you can rent per year, and 43 cities benefit from automatic platform tax collection through Airbnb.

STR laws are evolving rapidly. Cities like New York City, San Francisco, and Los Angeles have tightened regulations significantly in recent years, while markets like Houston, Dallas, and Atlanta remain more host-friendly. Our data is verified against official government sources and updated regularly to reflect the latest changes.

What We Cover for Each City

Permits & Licensing

Application fees, renewal intervals, required inspections, and where to apply. Know exactly what it takes to get licensed in your city.

Taxes & Fees

Occupancy tax rates, sales tax, and whether Airbnb collects taxes automatically or you need to handle it yourself.

Zoning & Day Limits

Annual night caps, primary residence requirements, zoning district restrictions, and neighborhood-level rules.

Fines & Enforcement

Penalty amounts for violations, enforcement agency contacts, and how cities are cracking down on illegal listings.

Browse by State

Arizona · California · Colorado · District of Columbia · Florida · Georgia · Hawaii · Illinois · Indiana · Louisiana · Maryland · Massachusetts · Michigan · Minnesota · Missouri · Nevada · New Jersey · New Mexico · New York · North Carolina · Ohio · Oregon · Pennsylvania · South Carolina · Tennessee · Texas · Utah · Washington · Wisconsin

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