Primary-Residence-Only Rule
Under DC's Short-Term Rental Regulation Act of 2018, a unit listed on Airbnb, VRBO, or similar platforms must be the host's primary residence — investor-owned ghost listings are flatly prohibited.
Short-Term Rentals in Washington, DC (2026)
12 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
Permit Requirements
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 RestrictionsDC 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...
Noise Rules
DC short-term rental hosts are responsible for guest noise under the STR Act and DCMR Title 20 Chapter 27. Repeated complaints can trigger license revocation by the Office of Short-Term Rentals.
Short Term Rentals: Noise Rules
Heavy RestrictionsTaxes & 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 RestrictionsDC 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...
Parking Rules
DC does not impose specific off-street parking requirements for short-term rentals. STR guests must follow standard street parking rules, including the Residential Permit Parking (RPP) program under 18 DCMR 2411-2413. Non-RPP vehicles face a 2-hour limit on permit blocks.
Washington DC Short-Term Rental Parking Rules
Some RestrictionsOccupancy Limits
DC short-term rental licensees must comply with DC Housing Code occupancy ceilings, generally two adults per bedroom plus two, and must disclose maximum guest capacity on every listing.
STR Occupancy Tied to Bedroom Count
Some RestrictionsInsurance Requirements
DC's STR Act requires every licensed host to maintain at least $250,000 in liability insurance covering each rental transaction, either personally or through the booking platform's host protection program.
STR Hosts Need $250K Liability Coverage
Heavy RestrictionsNight Caps
DC caps unhosted short-term rentals at 90 nights per calendar year. Hosted stays where the owner remains on-site have no night limit. The cap is enforced through platform data sharing with the DC Office of Short-Term Rentals.
Short Term Rentals: Night Caps
Heavy RestrictionsRegistration Rules
The DC Short-Term Rental Regulation Act (DC Law 22-307) requires hosts to register, obtain a Basic Business License, and limit non-hosted bookings to 90 nights per year. Unhosted whole-home rentals beyond 90 nights are prohibited.
Short Term Rentals: Registration Rules
Heavy RestrictionsHost Presence Rule
DC distinguishes hosted stays (host on-site) from unhosted whole-unit rentals; unhosted rentals from a primary residence are capped at 90 nights per calendar year, while hosted stays face no night cap.
Unhosted Rentals Capped at 90 Nights Yearly
Heavy RestrictionsRepeat Violator Strikes
DLCP applies a progressive enforcement ladder for STR violations: first offense generates a warning or fine, second a suspension, and a third confirmed violation triggers automatic license revocation.
Three Violations Trigger STR License Revocation
Heavy RestrictionsHost Platform Liability
DC's STR Act imposes platform-side compliance: booking platforms must verify each listing has a valid DLCP license number, remove non-compliant listings, and report booking data to the District quarterly.
Airbnb and VRBO Must Verify DC Licenses
Heavy RestrictionsLooking for District of Columbia county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Washington city rules.
Short-Term Rentals in District of Columbia →