Bristol Borough has not adopted a dedicated short-term rental ordinance. Overnight occupancy is governed by the borough's adopted Property Maintenance Code (Ord. 1200, IPMC) and Chapter 27 (Zoning). Bedrooms must contain at least 70 sq ft, plus 50 sq ft per additional occupant. Confirm any STR-specific cap with Code Enforcement at 215-788-3828.
Bristol Borough Council adopted the International Property Maintenance Code via Ordinance 1200 (Feb. 14, 2005), and that code, together with Chapter 27 (Zoning) of the borough code on eCode360, governs how many people can sleep in a dwelling rented short-term. The IPMC requires every sleeping room to contain at least 70 square feet for the first occupant and an additional 50 square feet for each additional occupant, and limits the number of unrelated occupants per dwelling unit. Pennsylvania has no statewide short-term rental preemption, so the borough's local zoning use list controls whether transient lodging is permitted in a given district. Operators must also register with the Bucks County Treasurer's Office and remit the 5% county Hotel Lodging Room Rental Tax on stays under 30 days, plus the 6% PA state hotel occupancy tax. Bristol Borough also requires a Change of Ownership or Occupancy inspection (Borough Code) before a new tenancy begins. Confirm the maximum allowable occupants for your address with the Bristol Borough Code Enforcement Office at 250 Pond Street, 215-788-3828.
Exceeding the IPMC bedroom-area formula, operating a transient rental in a zoning district that does not list it as a permitted use under Chapter 27, or skipping the change-of-occupancy inspection can trigger Property Maintenance Code penalties of $100-$1,000 per day plus possible imprisonment up to 90 days under Ord. 1200.
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