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Lancaster County, PA Short-Term Rentals: Short-Term Rental Parking Rules (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified July 2026

Key Facts

County parking rule
None; municipal only
City base requirement
One off-street space per dwelling
Four-plus bedrooms (City)
One extra space per bedroom
On-street parking
Not counted in City
Other municipalities
Set their own standards

Summary

Lancaster County sets no STR parking rule; it is municipal. The City of Lancaster requires one off-street parking space per dwelling, plus one additional off-street space per bedroom for dwellings with four or more bedrooms. All required spaces must be off-street. Other municipalities set their own standards.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Lancaster County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

1 parking space per dwelling, except that dwellings with 4 or more bedrooms shall provide 1 additional space per bedroom. All parking spaces must be off-street parking.

View official code

Full Breakdown

Short-term-rental parking is a municipal zoning matter in Pennsylvania. The City of Lancaster is a representative example: it requires one parking space per dwelling, except that dwellings with four or more bedrooms must provide one additional space per bedroom, and all of those spaces must be off-street. That off-street mandate reflects the dense, older housing stock in the City where on-street parking is scarce. Suburban and rural municipalities in the county - Manheim Township, East Hempfield, and others - set their own STR parking requirements, which may differ in the number of spaces or whether on-street parking counts. Since there is no countywide rule, hosts must verify the ordinance for their specific municipality.

Violations & Fines

Parking requirements are enforced by the municipality. In the City of Lancaster, failing to provide the required off-street spaces can block issuance of the Certificate of Zoning Compliance needed to register the STR, and operating without meeting the standard is

Frequently Asked Questions

How much parking does a Lancaster County STR need?
It depends on the municipality; the county has no rule. In the City of Lancaster you need one off-street space per dwelling, plus one more off-street space per bedroom for homes with four or more bedrooms.
Can guests park on the street instead?
Not in the City of Lancaster, which requires all STR parking to be off-street. Other municipalities in the county set their own rules, so check the specific ordinance where your property is located.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Lancaster County

Noise Ordinances: Quiet HoursSome RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Construction HoursSome RestrictionsShort-Term Rental PermitsSome RestrictionsPrimary-Residence-Only RuleSome RestrictionsHost Presence RuleSome RestrictionsTaxes & FeesSome RestrictionsOccupancy LimitsSome RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Vehicle NoiseSome RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Leaf Blower RulesSome RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Barking DogsSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Loading ZonesSome Restrictions

All Lancaster County rules

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