9 verified short-term rentals rules for Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Philadelphia's 2021 Short-Term Rental ordinance requires a Limited Lodging Operator License for hosted rentals (primary residence) and a Visitor Accommodations License plus zoning approval for non-primary STRs, which are capped at 180 days per year. All listings must display the city license number.
Philadelphia STR guests are subject to the same noise rules as all residents under Phila. Code Title 10, Chapter 10-400 (Noise and Excessive Vibration). Quiet hours are 10 PM to 7 AM in residential districts. Limited Lodging hosts under §14-604(13) are also required to ensure their STR use does not 'alter the residential character' of the building, and Bill 220754 makes the host responsible for guest violations. Repeat noise complaints can trigger license review by L&I.
Philadelphia STR operators must collect and remit the 8.5% city Hotel Tax (Phila. Code Chapter 19-2400) plus the 6% Pennsylvania state hotel occupancy tax on every stay under 30 days. A Limited Lodging Operator License is $150/year; non-primary 'Visitor Accommodation' Rental Licenses are $63/unit/year. Operators also owe Business Income & Receipts Tax (BIRT) and, for residents, Net Profits Tax. Hotel Tax returns are filed monthly via the Philadelphia Tax Center.
City of Philadelphia, Department of Revenue – Hotel Tax
The City's Hotel Tax rate is 8.5% of the total amount paid by the guest. The hotel operator is responsible for collecting the tax from guests. In addition to the City's Hotel Tax, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania imposes its own 7% Hotel Tax on the amount paid by the guest. The total in-state rate is 15.5%. You can be excused from paying Hotel Tax if you have received rent from: Someone who has...
Philadelphia does not require off-street parking for limited lodging or visitor accommodations under §14-604(13), and STR guests cannot obtain Residential Permit Parking (RPP) zone permits — those are reserved for residents under Phila. Code §12-2806. Guests must use legal on-street parking, paid Philadelphia Parking Authority meters, or commercial garages. Hosts in RPP districts must clearly disclose that guests cannot use resident-only parking, or risk PPA citations.
Philadelphia does not have a dedicated short-term rental ordinance with specific occupancy caps. STRs must comply with the general rental license requirements of Phila. Code Chapter 9-3900 and applicable building/fire code occupancy limits. The Philadelphia Fire Code and building code set maximum occupancy based on egress and floor area.
Philadelphia does not mandate specific insurance coverage for short-term rental hosts through a local ordinance. Hosts are subject to the general rental license requirements of Phila. Code §9-3902 and standard landlord liability principles. Platforms like Airbnb and Vrbo provide their own host protection insurance programs.
Philadelphia Code section 14-604(13) and Title 9-3902 distinguish a Limited Lodging operator, who must use the home as a primary residence and be present or rent fewer than 90 nights per year, from a Visitor Accommodation, which needs a hotel zoning use and rental license.
Philadelphia's Limited Lodging category under section 14-604(13) is reserved for operators whose dwelling unit is their primary residence. Investor-only short-term rentals fall into the Visitor Accommodation hotel category, which is allowed only in specific commercial zoning districts.
Philadelphia Code section 9-3905 lets Licenses and Inspections suspend or revoke a Limited Lodging or Hotel rental license after repeat violations of zoning, noise, occupancy, fire, or tax rules. Three violations within 12 months typically trigger administrative revocation hearings.
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Philadelphia city rules.
Short-Term Rentals in Philadelphia County →