Most Airbnb-Friendly Cities in America (2026)

Top 25: Easiest for Hosts

Rankings reflect the permit and licensing burden for short-term rental hosts in each city. "Permissive" cities have minimal registration requirements, low fees, and few operational restrictions. "Strict" cities require extensive permitting, limit rental nights, or ban STRs in certain zones entirely.

1. 1

   Sanger, CAFew RestrictionsBusiness license (Chapter 18) required for any commercial rental activity

   Sanger has not adopted a dedicated short-term rental ordinance as of early 2026. The city's zoning code (Chapter 90) does not specifically define or regulate short-term rentals, vacation rentals, or homestays. Operators must still obtain a business license under Chapter 18 and register as transient occupancy tax operators under Chapter 66, Article V. The absence of a specific STR framework means there are no local caps, zoning restrictions, or STR-specific permit requirements.

2. 2

   Benton County, WAFew RestrictionsNone required

   Unincorporated Benton County has no short-term-rental permit or licensing chapter. STRs operate under county zoning plus a Washington state business license. The Tri-Cities regulate rentals within their own limits.

3. 3

   Lima, OHFew RestrictionsNone - Lima has no STR ordinance

   The City of Lima, Ohio has no dedicated short-term rental (Airbnb/Vrbo) permit ordinance. Lima does not issue an STR-specific license. Instead, non-owner-occupied rentals must obtain a free Rental Housing Unit Registration (Codified Ordinances Ch. 872), and hosts serving transient guests fall under Ohio's lodging-tax and hotel definitions.

4. 4

   Reedley, CAFew RestrictionsRequired (RMC 3-2)

   Reedley has no dedicated STR ordinance. Operators must comply with the 8% TOT under RMC Chapter 3-7 and obtain a business license under RMC Chapter 3-2.

5. 5

   Sutter County, CAFew RestrictionsNo (none adopted)

   Unincorporated Sutter County has no dedicated short-term rental permit ordinance. Anyone renting a dwelling for 30 days or less must instead register under the county's Hotel/Motel Surcharge (transient lodging tax) in County Code Chapter 150 and obtain a Hotel/Motel Registration Certificate.

6. 6

   Seminole, FLFew RestrictionsNot allowed beyond state

   Florida preempts local STR licensing under FS 509.032(7). Seminole cannot require permits beyond state DBPR vacation rental licensing, but must register operators where allowed and may enforce zoning rules consistent with state law.

7. 7

   Selma, CAFew Restrictions

   Selma does not currently have a dedicated short-term rental ordinance or permit program. STR operations are governed by general zoning regulations under Title XI. Operators must comply with California Revenue and Taxation Code Section 7280 for transient occupancy tax collection.

8. 8

   Tulare County, CAFew RestrictionsNone (ordinance rejected 7/9/2024)

   Unincorporated Tulare County has NO short-term rental land-use permit. The Board of Supervisors rejected a proposed STR ordinance 3-2 on July 9, 2024. The only mandatory step is registering with the Tax Collector for a Transient Occupancy Registration Certificate, which the Code states does not constitute a permit.

9. 9

   Penn Hills, PAFew RestrictionsNone in Penn Hills

   Penn Hills does not have a dedicated short-term rental permit ordinance. Operators must obtain a Certificate of Use, Occupancy and Compliance for any rental use and comply with zoning. No dedicated STR license exists, unlike the Pittsburgh Chapter 781 program.

10. 10

    Outagamie County, WIFew RestrictionsDATCP Tourist Rooming House

    Wis. Stat. §66.1014 preempts local STR bans for stays of 7 consecutive days or longer. Hosts renting more than 10 nights per year must hold a state Tourist Rooming House license from DATCP. Outagamie County does not operate a county-wide STR permit; municipal rules vary across Appleton, Kaukauna, and the towns.

11. 11

    Brown County, WIFew RestrictionsDATCP Tourist Rooming House

    Wis. Stat. §66.1014 preempts local STR bans for stays of 7 consecutive days or more. Hosts renting more than 10 nights per year must hold a state Tourist Rooming House license from DATCP. Brown County does not operate a county-wide STR permit; municipal rules vary.

12. 12

    Manchester, NHFew Restrictions

    Manchester NH manages STR demand driven by tax-free shopping tourism and Boston metro proximity. New Hampshire no-sales-tax advantage draws visitors with the city requiring registration for vacation rental operators.

13. 13

    Killeen, TXFew Restrictions

    Killeen has minimal STR-specific regulation. Texas state law limits municipal ability to ban STRs. Military families and visitors to Fort Cavazos drive consistent rental demand. Hotels and motels serve most transient military-connected visitors.

14. 14

    Lakeland, FLFew RestrictionsNone required

    Lakeland has no city-specific short-term rental ordinance. Florida Statute §509.032 preempts local governments from regulating STRs based on stay length or rental frequency. State-level: Florida DBPR Vacation Rental license required if rented more than 3 times per year for stays under 30 days.

15. 15

    Norwalk, CAFew RestrictionsNone required

    Norwalk has not adopted a local short-term rental ordinance. Operators must still comply with California state-level transient occupancy tax and any platform requirements; no city-issued STR license exists.

16. 16

    Fort Bend County, TXFew RestrictionsNot required — no STR ordinance

    Fort Bend County does NOT require a short-term rental (STR) permit or registration in unincorporated areas — the county has not adopted zoning and has no STR ordinance. However, Fort Bend County did adopt a county Hotel Occupancy Tax effective October 1, 2024 under Texas Tax Code Chapter 352: 7% outside city limits and 2% inside city limits, in addition to the 6% state HOT under Tax Code §156.051. Full enforcement began May 1, 2025, with monthly returns due to Avenu (HotelTaxOnline.com) by the 15th. STRs inside Fort Bend County cities (Sugar Land, Missouri City, Stafford, Richmond, Rosenberg, Katy, Fulshear, Meadows Place) must follow that city's STR rules.

17. 17

    Monroe County, NYFew Restrictions

    Monroe County voted in December 2025 to opt out of New York State's new short-term rental registry. No county-level STR permit is required, but hosts must register with the Monroe County Treasurer for hotel room excise tax purposes.

18. 18

    Brazos County, TXFew RestrictionsNot required in unincorporated Brazos County

    Brazos County does NOT require a county-level permit, license, or registration to operate a short-term rental in unincorporated areas. Texas counties have no general STR-licensing authority, and HB 2127 (2023, Texas Regulatory Consistency Act) further preempts much local STR regulation. STR operators must, however, collect and remit the 6% Texas State Hotel Occupancy Tax. Inside Bryan and College Station, separate municipal STR registration and HOT collection rules apply.

19. 19

    Boone County, MOFew Restrictions

    Missouri has no statewide STR preemption. Boone County has not adopted a dedicated short-term rental (Airbnb/VRBO) ordinance for unincorporated areas. On Feb. 8, 2024, the County Commission adopted Rental Housing Standards under the authority of Mo. Rev. Stat. §64.207 (HB 271, 2021), but those standards apply to longer-term rented residences, not vacation lodging. STR operators must still comply with the underlying zoning district, the Boone County Building Code, and Missouri sales/lodging tax rules. The City of Columbia (most STRs in the county are inside Columbia) enforces its own STR ordinance effective June 1, 2024.

20. 20

    Greene County, MOFew RestrictionsNone required in unincorporated Greene County

    Greene County has not adopted a county-level short-term rental permit ordinance for unincorporated areas. Missouri has no statewide STR preemption or licensing scheme, leaving regulation to local governments. A property in unincorporated Greene County is governed primarily by the Greene County Zoning Regulations (no STR-specific permit) and applicable Missouri lodging tax. Properties inside the City of Springfield are subject to Springfield's separate STR ordinance and permit categories administered by the City.

21. 21

    Cleveland County, OKFew RestrictionsNot required

    Cleveland County has no planning or zoning department and no county short-term rental permit for unincorporated areas. Rules come from the cities: Norman requires a licence, and parts of south Oklahoma City fall inside the county.

22. 22

    Hillsborough County, NHFew RestrictionsNot required (no county authority)

    Hillsborough County does not require a short-term rental license. New Hampshire has no statewide STR registration program either. The only state-level requirement is collecting and remitting the New Hampshire Meals and Rooms (Rentals) Tax of 8.5 percent under RSA 78-A:6 on any rental of a residential unit for less than 185 consecutive days. Cities and towns within the county (Manchester, Nashua, Merrimack, etc.) regulate STRs through local zoning under RSA 674.

23. 23

    Cass County, NDFew RestrictionsNot required (unincorporated)

    North Dakota has no statewide short-term rental preemption or licensing program. Cass County has not adopted a county-wide STR ordinance for unincorporated areas. Where rural townships have adopted zoning under NDCC Title 58, lodging or transient rental uses may be regulated through township zoning. STR operators must collect and remit North Dakota state sales tax (5%) and any applicable local lodging or gross receipts tax. Inside Fargo, West Fargo, and other municipalities, city ordinances apply.

24. 24

    Sarpy County, NEFew RestrictionsNone

    Nebraska law bars Sarpy County cities from banning short-term rentals (LB 57). No countywide STR permit exists. Bellevue requires only a registration notice for rentals in multifamily buildings and planned unit developments.

25. 25

    Jefferson County, TXFew RestrictionsNone required in unincorporated Jefferson County

    Jefferson County has no county-level short-term rental permit ordinance for unincorporated areas. Texas counties generally lack the zoning authority that cities use to license STRs. The City of Beaumont adopted its STR ordinance (Ord. ORD-26-001, codified at Sec. 28.04.009) requiring a permit and applying the city's 15% hotel occupancy tax to STRs. Texas Tax Code Chapter 156 (state hotel occupancy tax, 6%) applies to stays under 30 days regardless of location. Texas HB 2127 (88R, 2023) preemption litigation remains unresolved.

State-by-State Breakdown

How each state leans overall, based on the cities and counties we have data for in that state.

Complete List

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