Airbnb and VRBO permit requirements, noise rules, taxes, and parking rules.
Short-Term Rentals rules vary widely between U.S. cities and counties. What is permitted in one jurisdiction may carry fines or require permits in another. These differences matter whether you are a homeowner, renter, landlord, or business owner.
We research each city's municipal code, official department guidelines, and council records to summarize the rules that affect daily life. Every entry links to the original source so you can verify the details yourself. Browse the topics below to explore specific short-term rentals regulations by city.
Each tile shows the strongest state-level rule for that state. Click a state to see its full statewide rules and how local cities are constrained.
Severity: Permissive · Moderate · Strict
Whether you need a license or permit to list your property on Airbnb, VRBO, or similar platforms, and what the application process looks like.
Noise restrictions that apply specifically to short-term rental properties, including quiet hours and rules about parties and gatherings.
Transient occupancy taxes, tourism fees, and other charges that hosts must collect from guests or pay to the city.
Off-street parking requirements for rental guests, limits on the number of vehicles, and restrictions on street parking near rental properties.
Maximum number of guests allowed per rental unit, often based on the number of bedrooms or square footage of the property.
Liability insurance minimums and other coverage that hosts must carry when renting their property to short-term guests.
Limits on how many nights per year a property can be rented as a short-term rental, sometimes called annual caps or night limits.
Requirements to register your rental property with the city, including what information you need to provide and how often you must renew.
Whether your city allows only home-sharing (host on-site during the rental) versus whole-home unhosted rentals, and the enforcement process for violations.
Rules limiting short-term rentals to a host's primary residence, including documentation required to prove residency and rules against operating multiple listings.
Cities like Los Angeles offer an extended permit allowing year-round whole-home rentals beyond the standard cap — eligibility criteria, fees, and review process.
Three-strike or escalating-penalty systems for hosts with repeated noise, occupancy, or registration violations, including permit revocation thresholds.
When platforms (Airbnb, VRBO) are liable for unpermitted listings — registration-number display rules and platform takedown obligations.
Common questions about short-term rentals in the United States.