Las Vegas's Short-Term Rentals: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles short-term rentals a little differently. In Las Vegas, Nevada, there are 13 distinct rules that residents and property owners should be aware of. Some are stricter than what neighboring cities enforce, and others are more relaxed. Here is what you need to know.

Primary-Residence-Only Rule

Las Vegas does not limit short-term rental licenses to a host's primary residence. Investors can license non-owner-occupied properties subject to the 660-foot separation rule, occupancy caps, and zoning compliance under LVMC Title 6.85.

Key details: Primary residence required: No. Separation buffer: 660 feet. License cap: Yes, capped citywide. State authority: NV SB 363 (2023).

Operating a non-licensed STR or violating the 660-foot separation between properties triggers license denial, fines starting around $1,000 per night, and possible referral for nuisance abatement.

The rules around primary-residence-only rule in Las Vegas lean permissive, but that does not mean anything goes.

Host Presence Rule

Las Vegas Title 6.85 does not require the owner to be present or to occupy the dwelling during a short-term rental stay, unlike many California cities, though the responsible party must respond to complaints within an hour.

Key details: Owner presence required: No. Local contact response: Within 60 minutes. Authority: LVMC Title 6.85. State backstop: NV SB 363 (2023).

Failing to maintain a 24/7 local contact who can respond within 60 minutes is a Title 6.85 violation and can trigger license suspension, fines, and revocation after repeat strikes.

If you are coming from a city with tighter rules, you will find Las Vegas gives residents more flexibility on host presence rule.

Repeat Violator Strikes

Las Vegas Title 6.85 uses an escalating discipline system: documented complaints for noise, occupancy, parking, or nuisance issues accumulate, and three substantiated violations within a 12-month window can result in license suspension or full revocation.

Key details: Strike window: 12 months. Strikes to revocation: Three. Fast-track grounds: Unruly gathering. Relicensing ban: Up to 24 months.

Three substantiated complaints within twelve months can revoke the STR license; a single shooting, party-house, or noise violation involving safety risk can trigger immediate emergency suspension under Title 6.85.

This is one of the stricter rules in Las Vegas's municipal code. If you are unsure whether your situation complies, it is worth checking with the city before proceeding.

Host Platform Liability

Las Vegas Title 6.85 puts compliance duties on the licensed host, not on Airbnb or Vrbo. Platforms collect and remit transient lodging tax, but enforcement, complaint response, and license discipline target the property owner directly.

Key details: Primary liability: Host. Tax collection: Platform remits. Required ad disclosure: License number. Platform fines: Generally none direct.

Advertising without a visible Las Vegas STR license number is a Title 6.85 violation against the host, not the platform; first offense fines run roughly $1,000 per advertisement per day until corrected.

Extended Home Share

Stays of 31 nights or longer fall outside Las Vegas Title 6.85 short-term rental regulation. Property owners can rent rooms or whole homes monthly under standard Nevada landlord-tenant law without an STR business license.

Key details: STR threshold: Under 31 nights. Long-term governing law: NRS 118A. License needed for 31+ days: No STR license. Tenant protections trigger: Day 31.

Marketing a property as a 31-plus-day rental while accepting shorter bookings is treated as an unlicensed STR and can incur fines, license denial for two years, and abatement orders.

Las Vegas is more permissive than most cities when it comes to extended home share. That said, there are still limits.

Parking Rules

Licensed short-term rentals in the City of Las Vegas must keep all guest vehicles in the property's driveway or designated off-street parking under LVMC Chapter 6.75 operational standards. Vehicles parked so as to block neighboring driveways, mailboxes, or sidewalks are a citable STR violation, and overflow into the street that creates a nuisance is recorded against the license.

Key details: Code Section: LVMC Chapter 6.75 operational standards. Required Parking Area: Driveway or other on-site off-street parking. Prohibited: Blocking neighbor driveways, mailboxes, sidewalks, fire lanes. Disclosure Required: Max vehicle count on interior placard. Complaint Hotline: 702-229-3500.

Parking violations on a licensed STR are enforced under LVMC Chapter 6.75 operational standards and the city's general traffic and parking provisions. Substantiated STR parking complaints carry the Chapter 6.75 civil penalty schedule of $1,000 to $10,000 per violation, with each day a separate offense, and are recorded against the license for purposes of suspension or revocation review. Vehicles obstructing fire access lanes, blocking neighbor driveways, blocking mailboxes, or parked on landscaping may also be cited or towed under general city traffic ordinances and Nevada Revised Statutes Title 43, independent of the STR license. Repeated substantiated parking complaints within a twelve-month period typically trigger administrative review of the CUV and business license, and can result in license suspension or non-renewal.

Noise Rules

Las Vegas Code Enforcement uses an audibility-based noise standard for licensed short-term rentals under LVMC Chapter 6.75 and the city's general nuisance code: outside music or other sound that can be heard 50 feet or more from the property line is a citable violation. Special events likely to generate amplified outdoor sound (weddings, ticketed parties, bachelor or bachelorette gatherings) are prohibited on STRs regardless of decibel level, and complaints are routed to the 24-hour hotline at 702-229-3500.

Key details: Code Section: LVMC Chapter 6.75; general nuisance provisions. Audibility Standard: Outside music or noise audible 50 ft from the property is a violation. Prohibited Events: Weddings, ticketed parties, bachelor/bachelorette gatherings. Complaint Hotline: 702-229-3500 (24-hour). Civil Penalties: $1,000 to $10,000 per violation.

Violations of the 50-foot audibility standard, or any prohibited special event on an STR, are civil violations under LVMC Chapter 6.75 and carry the 2022 short-term rental civil penalty schedule of $1,000 to $10,000 per violation, with each day a separate offense. A single substantiated noise complaint typically generates a citation to the licensed owner and a written warning to the responsible party; repeat verified complaints within a twelve-month period drive escalating fines and ultimately a license suspension or revocation hearing. Operating an STR for a wedding, ticketed party, bachelor or bachelorette gathering, or other prohibited special event is independently citable and is treated as a per-event violation rather than per-day. Code Enforcement coordinates with Las Vegas Metropolitan Police for in-progress noise calls; LVMPD may issue separate Nevada Revised Statutes citations for disturbing the peace (NRS 203.010) on top of the STR-specific civil penalty.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Las Vegas actively enforces its noise rules requirements.

Occupancy Limits

Licensed short-term rentals in the City of Las Vegas are limited to no more than three bedrooms under LVMC Chapter 6.75 and to a hard maximum of 16 overnight occupants. The Nevada statewide framework set by AB 363 (2021) requires a minimum two-night stay at non-owner-occupied STRs; Las Vegas requires owner occupancy as a separate eligibility rule, and the city prohibits commercial special events that would exceed the home's residential character regardless of headcount.

Key details: Code Section: LVMC Chapter 6.75; Nevada AB 363 (2021). Bedroom Cap: 3 bedrooms maximum. Overnight Occupancy Cap: 16 persons maximum. Owner Occupancy: Required during every rental stay. Statewide Min. Stay (non-owner): 2 nights (AB 363; large counties).

Exceeding the three-bedroom cap, the 16-person overnight limit, or hosting a prohibited special event is a civil violation under LVMC Chapter 6.75 carrying penalties of $1,000 to $10,000 per violation, with each day a separate offense. Operating a property with more than three bedrooms as an STR is treated as unlicensed activity and triggers the unlicensed-operation per-day fines ($500 first offense, $1,000 repeat). Substantiated overcrowding complaints are recorded against the license and contribute to the license suspension or revocation review process. The city may also coordinate with Las Vegas Metropolitan Police for prohibited special events; LVMPD can issue separate citations under Nevada Revised Statutes for disturbing the peace or for unpermitted gatherings, independent of the STR civil penalty. Failure to post the required interior placard listing maximum occupancy and the 24-hour contact is independently citable.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Las Vegas actively enforces its occupancy limits requirements.

Insurance Requirements

LVMC Chapter 6.75 requires every licensed short-term rental operator inside the City of Las Vegas to carry liability insurance with a minimum of $500,000 per occurrence covering the short-term rental use of the property. Proof of coverage must be submitted with the application and maintained for the life of the business license; lapse in coverage is independent grounds for citation and license action.

Key details: Code Section: LVMC Chapter 6.75. Minimum Liability: $500,000 per occurrence. Coverage Scope: Must cover short-term rental use of the property. Proof Required: Certificate of Insurance at application and renewal. Lapse Reporting: Required; cancellation/non-renewal is citable.

Failure to maintain at least $500,000 per occurrence in liability insurance on a licensed STR is a civil violation under LVMC Chapter 6.75. Operating without coverage in force is treated the same as operating without a license, with civil penalties of $1,000 to $10,000 per violation and each day a separate offense, plus per-day fines of $500 for a first offense and $1,000 for repeat offenses within twelve months for continued operation after suspension. A material reduction in coverage below the $500,000 threshold, or cancellation by the carrier, that is not reported to the city is independently citable. If a personal-injury or property-damage incident on a licensed STR is found to have occurred while coverage had lapsed, the city may revoke the CUV and business license and bar reapplication for the same address for a period set in the suspension order. The host also forfeits the affirmative compliance defense in any civil suit brought by an injured guest or neighbor.

This is one of the stricter rules in Las Vegas's municipal code. If you are unsure whether your situation complies, it is worth checking with the city before proceeding.

Registration Rules

Las Vegas implemented Nevada AB 363 (2021) on August 17, 2022 by adopting LVMC Chapter 6.75, which requires every short-term rental to complete a two-track registration: a Conditional Use Verification (CUV) issued by the Department of Planning and a Short-Term Residential Rental Business License issued by Business Licensing. Both must be renewed annually, and the licensee must maintain a 24-hour responsible-party contact reachable by the city complaint hotline at 702-229-3500.

Key details: Code Section: LVMC Chapter 6.75 (Bill No. 2022-11, adopted Aug. 17, 2022). Two-Stage Registration: CUV (Planning) + Business License (Business Licensing). Annual License Fee: $500 per year. Renewal Frequency: Annual; conditions re-verified at renewal. Required Contact: 24-hour responsible party + city hotline 702-229-3500.

Operating a short-term rental in the City of Las Vegas without both a current CUV and a current Business License is a civil violation under LVMC Chapter 6.75, with civil penalties of $1,000 to $10,000 per violation and each day a separate offense. Continuing to operate or advertise an STR after license suspension, revocation, or expiration carries per-day fines of $500 for a first offense and $1,000 for repeat offenses within twelve months. Failure to maintain a 24-hour responsive responsible-party contact, failure to post the required interior placard, failure to keep liability insurance in force, or failure to remit Clark County Transient Lodging Tax is independently citable. Loss of primary-residence status (for example, owner moves out) invalidates the CUV immediately; continuing to rent after that point is treated as unlicensed activity. Repeat substantiated complaints inside twelve months for noise, occupancy, parking, trash, or prohibited special events feed into administrative review and can result in suspension, revocation, or non-renewal of the license, with a bar on reapplying at the same address for a period set in the order.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Las Vegas actively enforces its registration rules requirements.

Night Caps

The City of Las Vegas does not impose a calendar-year cap on booked nights for a licensed short-term rental. Under LVMC Chapter 6.75, eligibility is gated by primary-residence and owner-occupancy rules, distance buffers, and the three-bedroom limit rather than by a maximum number of rental nights per year, but Nevada AB 363 (2021) imposes a two-night minimum stay at non-owner-occupied STRs in large counties.

Key details: Annual Booked-Night Cap: None. Code Section: LVMC Chapter 6.75; Nevada AB 363 (2021). Statewide Minimum Stay (non-owner-occupied): 2 nights (AB 363, large counties). Eligibility Controls: Primary residence + owner occupancy + 660 ft separation + 2,500 ft resort buffer. Bedroom Cap: 3 bedrooms maximum.

Las Vegas does not assess a violation for exceeding any annual booked-night number, because none exists. However, eligibility-based violations carry the standard LVMC Chapter 6.75 civil penalty schedule of $1,000 to $10,000 per violation, with each day a separate offense. The most common indirect 'cap-style' violations are: continuing to rent after the property ceases to be the owner's primary residence (license should have been surrendered), accepting single-night non-owner-occupied bookings in violation of Nevada AB 363's two-night minimum at non-owner-occupied STRs, and continuing to advertise or accept bookings after a license suspension or expiration ($500/day first offense; $1,000/day repeat within twelve months). Substantiated complaints continue to drive license suspension or revocation review on the basis of conduct, not booked-night counts.

Las Vegas is more permissive than most cities when it comes to night caps. That said, there are still limits.

Permit Requirements

Las Vegas requires every short-term rental to hold both a Business License and a Conditional Use Verification (CUV) under LVMC Chapter 6.75, adopted by the City Council on August 17, 2022 (Bill No. 2022-11) to implement Nevada Assembly Bill 363 (AB 363, 2021). Eligibility is strictly limited: the dwelling must be the owner's primary residence, contain no more than three bedrooms, sit at least 660 feet from any other licensed STR, and sit at least 2,500 feet from any property holding a non-restricted gaming license.

Key details: Code Section: LVMC Chapter 6.75 (Bill No. 2022-11, adopted Aug. 17, 2022). Required Approvals: Business License + Conditional Use Verification (CUV). Primary Residence Rule: Property must be the owner's primary residence. Owner Presence: Owner must occupy the dwelling during each rental. Bedroom Cap: 3 bedrooms maximum.

Operating a short-term rental in the City of Las Vegas without both a current Business License and CUV under LVMC Chapter 6.75 is a civil violation. Per the 2022 ordinance, civil penalties range from $1,000 to $10,000 per violation, replacing the prior $500 maximum, and each day of unlicensed operation is a separate offense. Operating after a notice of suspension or revocation, or continuing to advertise an STR on Airbnb, Vrbo, or other platforms after license action, can trigger fines of $500 per day for a first offense and $1,000 per day for repeat offenses within twelve months. Violating the 660-foot STR separation, the 2,500-foot resort-corridor buffer, the three-bedroom cap, or the owner-occupied primary-residence requirement is independently citable. Code Enforcement and Las Vegas Metropolitan Police respond to the 24-hour STR complaint hotline at 702-229-3500; substantiated violations are recorded against the license, and the city may suspend or revoke the CUV and business license after repeated complaints for noise, occupancy, parking, trash, or unlicensed special events.

This is one of the stricter rules in Las Vegas's municipal code. If you are unsure whether your situation complies, it is worth checking with the city before proceeding.

Taxes & Fees

Operating a licensed short-term rental in the City of Las Vegas costs $500 per year for the business license under LVMC Chapter 6.75, on top of a non-refundable Conditional Use Verification application fee. Every booking is subject to Clark County Transient Lodging Tax of 13.00% outside the Primary Gaming Corridor and 13.38% inside the corridor, plus Nevada state and local sales tax registration where applicable.

Key details: Annual License Fee: $500 per year. License Code Section: LVMC Chapter 6.75. Room Tax - Resort Corridor: 13.38% (Primary Gaming Corridor). Room Tax - Outside Corridor: 13.00%. Tax Authority: Clark County Department of Business License (NRS 244A).

Operating without a current Business License under LVMC Chapter 6.75 is a civil violation carrying penalties of $1,000 to $10,000 per violation, with each day a separate offense. Continuing to advertise or operate after a license suspension or expiration triggers per-day fines of $500 for a first offense and $1,000 for repeat offenses within twelve months. Failure to register for and remit Clark County Transient Lodging Tax is independently enforceable by the Clark County Department of Business License under NRS 244A; the county can assess back taxes, interest, and penalties, and can refer chronic non-filers to the Nevada Department of Taxation. Failure to confirm that a marketplace facilitator (such as Airbnb or Vrbo) is collecting the tax on the host's behalf does not relieve the host of liability if the tax is not in fact remitted. Failure to maintain a current city business license while continuing to collect rental income can also be referred to the Nevada Department of Taxation for sales tax compliance review.

The Bottom Line

Las Vegas is tougher than many cities when it comes to short-term rentals. Out of the 13 rules covered here, 6 are rated strict. If you are a homeowner, renter, or business owner in Las Vegas, take the time to understand these requirements before they become a problem. Most violations come with fines, and some repeat violations can escalate.

All of the above reflects Las Vegas's municipal code as of our last review. If you need specifics on fines, exemptions, or filing requirements, the detailed ordinance pages linked above have the full breakdown.