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

Pittsburgh does not set occupancy limits specific to short-term rentals, providing more operational flexibility than many comparable cities. The maximum number of persons permitted in any rental unit is governed by the adopted International Property Maintenance Code standards, which base occupancy on minimum habitable room sizes, ceiling heights, ventilation, and means of egress. Under IPMC standards, habitable rooms require a minimum of 70 square feet for one occupant and 50 square feet per occupant for rooms with more than one person. These same standards apply to both long-term and short-term rentals under the Chapter 781 Residential Housing Rental Permit Program. The PLI inspection required for the rental permit verifies that units meet these habitability standards. While the city does not cap guests per bedroom, platform-specific rules on Airbnb or VRBO may set their own limits. STR operators should also verify that their insurance coverage is adequate for the number of guests they host. Fire code egress requirements may also limit occupancy in practice.