Short-Term Rentals in Washington, DC (2026)

9 verified short-term rentals rules for Washington, District of Columbia, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.

Verified from official government sources

Short-Term Rental Permits

DC requires a license to operate any short-term rental under the Short-Term Rental Regulation Act of 2018 (D.C. Law 22-307, DC Code 30-201.01 et seq.). Two license types exist: Short-Term Rental (host present, unlimited nights) and Vacation Rental (host absent, max 90 nights per year). Only primary residences eligible for the Homestead Tax Deduction qualify.

Washington DC Short-Term Rental License Requirements

Heavy Restrictions

DC Code § 30-201.01 (Short-term Rental Regulation, Definitions)

For the purposes of this subchapter, the term: (1) "Booking service" means any person or entity that facilitates short-term rental reservations and collects payment for lodging in a short-term rental. A booking service shall be a room remarketer within the meaning of § 47-2001(o-1). (2) "Department" means the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection or its successor agency. (3) "Host" me...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Taxes & Fees

DC imposes a 15.95% transient accommodations tax on all short-term rental stays, effective through March 30, 2027. Hosts must collect and remit this tax. The two-year STR license costs $104.50 through DLCP.

Washington DC Short-Term Rental Taxes & Fees

Heavy Restrictions

DC Code § 30-201.01 (Short-term Rental Regulation, Definitions)

For the purposes of this subchapter, the term: (1) "Booking service" means any person or entity that facilitates short-term rental reservations and collects payment for lodging in a short-term rental. A booking service shall be a room remarketer within the meaning of § 47-2001(o-1). (2) "Department" means the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection or its successor agency. (3) "Host" me...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Short-Term Rental Parking Rules

Guests of a DC vacation rental do not count as a 'resident's guest' for the Advisory Neighborhood Commission's annual visitor parking permit. D.C. Code § 30-201.02(f) blocks vacation-rental hosts and their transient guests from using the ANC visitor pass system under 18 DCMR § 2414.14, unlike a standard short-term rental where the host stays on site.

Washington DC Short-Term Rental Parking Rule

Light Restrictions

D.C. Code § 30-201.02(f)

For the purposes of 18 DCMR § 2414.14, a transient guest of a vacation rental shall not be considered a guest of a resident in the Advisory Neighborhood Commission area designated on an annual visitor parking permit.

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Occupancy Limits

A Washington, D.C. host running more than one short-term rental at the same address, say a spare bedroom plus an in-law suite, doesn't get a pass on occupancy caps. D.C. Code § 30-201.02(e) ties that permission directly to the occupancy limits already set by Title 11, Title 12, and Title 14 of the D.C. Municipal Regulations.

DC Short-Term Rental Occupancy Limits

Some Restrictions

D.C. Code § 30-201.02(e)

A host may offer multiple short-term rentals at a single property, such as a bedroom and an in-law suite, subject to all applicable occupancy limits contained in Title 11, Title 12, and Title 14 of the District of Columbia Municipal Regulations.

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Insurance Requirements

Every DC short-term rental host must carry at least $500,000 in current liability insurance before renting to a transient guest. D.C. Code § 30-201.02(b) lets the booking service supply that coverage instead of the host, and the Mayor can raise or lower the dollar threshold by rulemaking without a new act of the Council.

Washington DC Short-Term Rental Insurance Rule

Some Restrictions

D.C. Code § 30-201.02(b)

A host providing a short-term rental shall have current liability insurance of at least $500,000, which may be provided by the booking service. The Mayor may adjust the minimum dollar amount of this insurance requirement by rulemaking.

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Night Caps

A DC vacation rental, one where the host is not present and the guest gets the whole place, is capped at 90 cumulative nights per calendar year under D.C. Code § 30-201.06(e). Hosts who need more nights can apply to DLCP for a narrow exemption tied to work travel or a serious health condition.

Washington DC Short-Term Rental 90-Night Cap

Some Restrictions

D.C. Code § 30-201.06(e)

A short-term rental shall operate as a vacation rental for no more than 90 nights cumulatively in any calendar year, unless the host has received an exemption pursuant to subsection (f) of this section.

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Primary-Residence-Only Rule

A DC short-term rental can only operate at the host's primary residence. D.C. Code § 30-201.02(d) ties eligibility to the property that already qualifies for the homestead deduction under § 47-850, closing off the option of licensing an investment property or a second home as a short-term rental.

Washington DC Short-Term Rental Primary Residence Rule

Significant Restrictions

D.C. Code § 30-201.02(d)

The property at which the short-term rental is located shall be the host's primary residence.

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Repeat Violator Strikes

DC hits a short-term rental host with escalating fines for repeat violations of the licensing and operating rules: $500 for a first offense, $2,000 for a second, and $6,000 plus revocation of the license endorsement for a third. D.C. Code § 30-201.10(a) applies this schedule to violations of §§ 30-201.02 and 30-201.06.

Washington DC Short-Term Rental Repeat Violation Penalties

Some Restrictions

D.C. Code § 30-201.10(a)

A host found to have violated § 30-201.02 or § 30-201.06 shall be liable for a civil penalty of: (1) $500 for the first violation; (2) $2,000 for a second violation; and (3) $6,000 for a third violation and a revocation of the related short-term rental license endorsement.

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Host Platform Liability

Airbnb, Vrbo, and other booking services operating in the District carry direct legal duties under D.C. Code § 30-201.08, not just the host. A booking service must verify a listing's license number, stop booking suspended units within 5 business days, and report every District transaction to DLCP, or face a $1,000 penalty per violating booking under § 30-201.10(b).

Washington DC Booking Service Liability Rules

Significant Restrictions

D.C. Code § 30-201.08(a)(2)-(3); § 30-201.10(b)

A booking service shall not book a short-term rental in the District of Columbia within 5 business days upon notice from the Department that the license endorsement for the short-term rental has been suspended or revoked. A booking service shall not book a short-term rental that was the subject of notice provided pursuant to paragraph (2) of this subsection, until notified by the Department tha...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗