Lehigh County, PA Short-Term Rentals: Occupancy Limits (2026)

Pennsylvania's Municipalities Planning Code (53 P.S. §§10101 et seq., Act 247 of 1968) vests zoning, land use, and occupancy authority in cities, boroughs, and townships — not counties. Lehigh County operates under the County Code (16 P.S.) which does not grant occupancy or dwelling-density regulation. As a result, Lehigh County itself has no STR ordinance, no maximum guest count, no occupants-per-bedroom rule, and no overnight-guest cap. The bnbcalc.com regulatory guide confirms: 'Lehigh County itself does not have a unified short-term rental licensing process. Instead, requirements vary by municipality.' Each of the 25 Lehigh County municipalities sets its own rules: Allentown requires STR permits, annual fees, and guest registration; Lehigh Township limits STRs to commercial zones; Lehighton Borough has no restrictions; Washington Township is unregulated. Statewide minimums under the PA Uniform Construction Code (UCC, 34 Pa. Code Ch. 401-405) and the International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC, where adopted) apply: minimum 70 sq ft for first occupant in a bedroom plus 50 sq ft per additional occupant. Contact your municipality's zoning office for the local cap.