Short-Term Rentals in Penn Hills, PA: What Residents Actually Need to Know

If you live in Penn Hills or are thinking about moving there, short-term rentals are one of those things you probably won't think about until they affect you directly. Penn Hills has 8 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of short-term rentals, and some of them might surprise you.

Permit Requirements

Penn Hills does not have a dedicated short-term rental permit ordinance. Operators must obtain a Certificate of Use, Occupancy and Compliance for any rental use and comply with zoning. No dedicated STR license exists, unlike the Pittsburgh Chapter 781 program.

Key details: Dedicated STR Permit: None in Penn Hills. Required Certificate: Use, Occupancy and Compliance. Safety Standard: PA UCC compliance required. State Tax Registration: PA Department of Revenue. County Tax Registration: Allegheny County Treasurer.

Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.

Penn Hills is more permissive than most cities when it comes to permit requirements. That said, there are still limits.

Night Caps

Penn Hills does not impose annual night caps or maximum rental day limits on short-term rental properties. Operators may rent year-round without a cap on the number of nights per year, unlike some municipalities that limit STRs to 90 or 120 nights annually.

Key details: Annual Night Cap: None. Owner-Occupancy Distinction: None. Maximum Properties Per Owner: No cap. Year-Round Operation: Allowed. Tax Filing: Monthly regardless of nights.

Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.

If you are coming from a city with tighter rules, you will find Penn Hills gives residents more flexibility on night caps.

Noise Rules

STR guests in Penn Hills must comply with the municipal noise ordinance. Excessive noise that disturbs the quiet, comfort, or repose of a reasonable person is prohibited, with quiet hours beginning at 10 PM. Fines reach up to $1,000 for repeat violations.

Key details: Quiet Hours Begin: 10:00 PM. Standard: Disturbs quiet, comfort, or repose of reasonable person. First Offense: Verbal warning. Repeat Fine: Up to $1,000. Enforcement: Penn Hills Police / Code Enforcement.

First offense: verbal warning. Subsequent offenses: fines up to $1,000. Appeals must be filed with the Penn Hills Board of Appeals within 10 days.

Parking Rules

Penn Hills has no parking rules specific to short-term rentals. STR guests follow standard municipal parking rules. Most Penn Hills residential streets allow on-street parking, but vehicles cannot be left abandoned more than 48 hours under PA Vehicle Code.

Key details: STR-Specific Rules: None. On-Street Parking: Generally allowed without permit. 48-Hour Rule: PA Vehicle Code Section 4513.60. Off-Street Required: No additional spaces for STR use. Enforcement: Penn Hills Police.

Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.

Penn Hills is more permissive than most cities when it comes to parking rules. That said, there are still limits.

Insurance Requirements

Penn Hills does not require STR operators to carry liability insurance by ordinance. Operators should obtain dedicated short-term rental liability coverage, as standard homeowner policies often exclude claims arising from commercial rental activity.

Key details: Penn Hills Requirement: None. Recommended Minimum: $1,000,000 liability coverage. Homeowner Policies: Typically exclude commercial rental. Platform Coverage: Supplemental, not primary. Specialty Carriers: Proper Insurance, Obie, etc..

Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.

Penn Hills is more permissive than most cities when it comes to insurance requirements. That said, there are still limits.

Occupancy Limits

Penn Hills has no STR-specific occupancy limits. Maximum occupancy follows the International Property Maintenance Code based on habitable room sizes and egress. No per-bedroom guest caps or annual caps exist in Penn Hills.

Key details: STR-Specific Cap: None. Standard: International Property Maintenance Code. Minimum Room Size: 70 sq ft for 1, plus 50 sq ft per additional. Bedroom Sharing: 50 sq ft per person minimum. Annual Night Cap: None.

Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.

Penn Hills is more permissive than most cities when it comes to occupancy limits. That said, there are still limits.

Registration Rules

Penn Hills has no dedicated short-term rental registration ordinance. Operators must obtain a Certificate of Use, Occupancy and Compliance for the rental use and register with the PA Department of Revenue and Allegheny County Treasurer for hotel occupancy taxes.

Key details: Municipal STR Registry: None. Required Certificate: Use, Occupancy and Compliance. State Registration: PA Department of Revenue. County Registration: Allegheny County Treasurer. Code Enforcement: (412) 342-1192.

Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.

The rules around registration rules in Penn Hills lean permissive, but that does not mean anything goes.

Taxes & Fees

Penn Hills STR operators must collect and remit the 6 percent Pennsylvania Hotel Occupancy Tax (72 P.S. Section 7209) and the 7 percent Allegheny County Hotel Room Rental Tax. Airbnb and VRBO remit the PA state tax automatically as booking agents.

Key details: PA Hotel Tax: 6 percent (72 P.S. Section 7209). Allegheny County Tax: 7 percent Hotel Room Rental Tax. Combined Rate: 13 percent on Penn Hills STRs. Platform Collection: Airbnb/VRBO remit state tax automatically. Stay Duration: Applies to stays under 30 days.

Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.

The Bottom Line

Compared to many U.S. cities, Penn Hills gives residents more room on short-term rentals. 6 of the 8 rules here are rated permissive. But permissive does not mean unregulated. There are still requirements, and the city does enforce them when violations are reported.

These rules come from Penn Hills's publicly available municipal code. For complete penalty schedules, exemption details, and answers to common questions, see the individual ordinance pages throughout this guide.