Erie, PA Short-Term Rentals: Noise Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Quiet hours Sun-Thu
- 10:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m.
- Quiet hours into Fri/Sat
- 11:59 p.m. to 8:00 a.m.
- Noise standard
- Plainly audible to unaided ear
- Contact person response
- Must reply within 1 hour
- License status
- Non-transferable, per (a)(2)
- Zoning penalty
- Up to $500 per day
Summary
Erie's short-term rental ordinance locks in fixed quiet hours under Zoning Ordinance Section 305.49(a)(7): no noise or sound that is plainly audible to an unaided human ear is allowed outside 10 p.m. to 8 a.m. Sunday through Thursday nights, stretched to 11:59 p.m. to 8 a.m. heading into Saturday and Sunday mornings.
(7) No unreasonable noise or sound that is plainly audible to an unaided human ear shall be permitted outside of the hours listed below: Sunday From 10:00 p.m. To Monday 8:00 a.m. ... Friday From 11:59 p.m. To Saturday 8:00 a.m. Saturday From 11:59 p.m. To Sunday 8:00 a.m.
Full Breakdown
49 regulates every short-term rental in Erie, requiring a license before an owner can rent a dwelling out at all; operating without one is itself a violation under subsection (a)(1). window heading into Saturday and Sunday mornings. The ordinance ties noise directly to licensing conduct: subsection (a)(5) states that neither occupants nor guests may engage in disorderly conduct or disturb the peace and quiet, and once the property owner is notified of a disturbance, the owner becomes responsible for preventing it from happening again. To make that enforceable, (a)(6) requires every STR to have a designated business contact person, reachable on a twenty-four-hour basis, who must be able to respond to any complaint within one hour of notification; the City must get 14 days' written notice before that contact person changes.
The license itself is non-transferable and does not run with the property under (a)(2), so a change in ownership triggers a fresh licensing review that reconsiders the property's compliance history, including noise complaints.
Violations & Fines
Because the quiet-hours rule lives inside the Zoning Ordinance, Erie enforces it the same way as any other zoning violation: the Zoning Officer issues a written enforcement notice under Section 403.1 describing the violation and the compliance deadline, and if it is not cured, Section 403.3 authorizes a civil judgment of up to $500 per day plus court costs and the City's attorney fees, with each day of noncompliance a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the quiet hours for short-term rentals in Erie?
Who is responsible if STR guests violate Erie's noise hours?
Can operating without a business contact person get an Erie STR shut down?
Does an Erie STR license carry over when the property is sold?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Erie
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