Permit Requirements: Allentown vs Bethlehem
How do permit requirements rules compare between Allentown, PA and Bethlehem, PA?
Allentown and Bethlehem have similar restriction levels.
Allentown, PA
Lehigh County
Allentown regulates short-term rentals as the Lehigh Valley attracts tourism visitors. NIZ downtown revitalization brings business travelers. Rental properties must meet code requirements. Registration and hotel tax collection required.
View full Allentown rules →Bethlehem, PA
Lehigh County
Bethlehem, PA does not have a standalone short-term rental ordinance. Hosts who rent dwellings for stays under 30 days are regulated through the city's rental property registration, Business Privilege License, applicable zoning, and the Lehigh County (south side) or Northampton County (north side) 4% hotel room rental tax. Pennsylvania has not preempted local STR regulation.
View full Bethlehem rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Allentown | Bethlehem |
|---|---|---|
| Registration | Required | - |
| Tax | Hotel occupancy tax | - |
| NIZ | Business travel demand | - |
| Inspection | Code compliance | - |
| Standalone STR Ordinance | - | None as of 2026 |
| License Required | - | Business Privilege License + rental registration |
| Code Portal | - | codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/bethlehem |
| State Preemption | - | None - cities can regulate STRs |
| Key Case | - | Slice of Life v. Hamilton Twp. (Pa. 2019) |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Allentown FAQ
Do I need a permit to Airbnb my home?
Check Allentown requirements. Some PA municipalities require STR permits; others have not yet regulated them.
What taxes apply?
PA Hotel Occupancy Tax (6%) applies to all stays under 30 days, plus any local hotel tax.
Bethlehem FAQ
Do I need a permit to run an Airbnb in Bethlehem, PA?
Yes. Bethlehem has no STR-specific permit, but you must register the property through the city's rental property registration program, hold a Business Privilege License from the Bethlehem Bureau of Revenue, confirm your zoning district allows transient lodging, and register to remit the applicable county 4% hotel room rental tax (Lehigh County for south-side properties, Northampton County for north-side properties) plus the PA 6% state hotel occupancy tax under 72 P.S. §7210.
Is short-term rental considered residential or commercial use in Bethlehem?
Under Pennsylvania Supreme Court precedent (Slice of Life v. Hamilton Twp. ZHB, 2019), short-term rental is NOT automatically a 'single-family residential' use. In Bethlehem's Zoning Ordinance, transient lodging typically requires a commercial or mixed-use district or a special-exception approval from the Zoning Hearing Board; running an STR in a pure residential zone risks a zoning violation.
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