Philadelphia Code section 14-604(13) and Title 9-3902 distinguish a Limited Lodging operator, who must use the home as a primary residence and be present or rent fewer than 90 nights per year, from a Visitor Accommodation, which needs a hotel zoning use and rental license.
A Limited Lodging operator under 14-604(13) rents rooms or the entire dwelling unit only when it is the operator's primary residence and only for 90 or fewer rental nights per year if the host is not present. Above 90 nights or without primary-residence status, the unit becomes a Visitor Accommodation requiring full hotel zoning approval and a Department of Licenses and Inspections rental license under section 9-3902. Hosts must register with L&I, post the registration number on every listing, collect Hotel Tax under Title 19, and comply with Fire Code occupancy rules. Buildings with HOAs or condo associations may further restrict STRs by deed.
Operating outside the host-presence and 90-night cap is a violation of section 14-604(13) with daily fines up to 2,000 dollars under 14-2007, plus Hotel Tax assessment, license revocation, and listing-platform takedowns under cooperation agreements.
Philadelphia, PA
Philadelphia's Limited Lodging category under section 14-604(13) is reserved for operators whose dwelling unit is their primary residence. Investor-only shor...
Philadelphia, PA
Philadelphia Code section 9-3905 lets Licenses and Inspections suspend or revoke a Limited Lodging or Hotel rental license after repeat violations of zoning,...
Philadelphia, PA
Philadelphia requires a Limited Lodging Operator License ($150/yr) under Phila. Code §9-3909 for primary-residence STRs, plus a CAL and Zoning Permit under §...
See how Philadelphia's host presence rule rules stack up against other locations.
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