4 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 2 cities in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania.
Verified from official government sources
Lehigh County does not operate a county-level short-term rental permit program; STR regulation is municipal under the PA Municipalities Planning Code (Act 247, 53 P.S. §10617 grants zoning enforcement authority). The City of Allentown requires every rental unit - including short-term rentals - to be registered annually under its Residential Rental Unit Registration & Inspection Program at $75 per unit per year, with a safety inspection at least once every 5 years. Hosts must also collect Pennsylvania's 6% state hotel occupancy tax on stays under 30 days.
Lehigh County imposes a 4% Hotel Room Rental Tax on stays under 30 days, including Airbnb/Vrbo rentals. Hosts also collect 6% PA state Hotel Occupancy Tax, 6% PA sales tax, and 1% local sales tax — roughly 17% total. Returns due monthly by the 25th to the Lehigh County Fiscal Office.
Lehigh County does not regulate STR parking. Under the PA Municipalities Planning Code, off-street parking minimums and on-street rules fall to each of the 25 cities, boroughs, and townships. Allentown, Bethlehem, and Whitehall each set their own STR parking standards — confirm with the local zoning office.
Lehigh County does not regulate STR occupancy. Under the PA Municipalities Planning Code (Act 247 of 1968), zoning and occupancy authority sits with the 25 cities, boroughs, and townships in Lehigh County. Allentown, Bethlehem, Whitehall, Emmaus, and others set their own STR caps — check each municipality.
2 cities in Lehigh County have their own short-term rentals rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
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