Short-Term Rental Permits
Short-Term Rentals
Whether you need a license or permit to list your property on Airbnb, VRBO, or similar platforms, and what the application process looks like.
How Short-Term Rental Permits Rules Differ by Place
Vestavia Hills, AL: Vestavia Hills Short-Term Rental Ban
Heavy RestrictionsVestavia Hills doesn't permit short-term rentals, it bans them outright: renting any residence to a transient for less than 90 consecutive days is unlawful citywide. Advertising…
Mesa, AZ: Mesa AZ Short-Term Rental Permit: $250 License, $500k Insurance Required
Heavy RestrictionsMesa requires every short-term and vacation rental owner to hold a City Short-Term Rental License under Mesa City Code Title 5, Chapter 15, effective February 1, 2023. The license…
Scottsdale, AZ: STR Registration Rules in Scottsdale
Heavy RestrictionsScottsdale Ordinance 4566 (Article IX, Chapter 18 - SRC 18-175) requires every short-term/vacation rental property to obtain an annual city license at $250 per property, plus an…
Maricopa County, AZ: Maricopa County STR Rules (Unincorporated)
Few RestrictionsArizona's ARS §9-500.39 preempts local governments from banning short-term rentals, extending to counties. Maricopa County has no STR permit or registration system for unincorporated…
Peoria, AZ: Peoria Short-Term Rental Registration
Few RestrictionsArizona state law (SB 1350) limits cities from banning short-term rentals but allows regulation of safety and nuisance issues. Peoria requires STR operators to obtain a Transaction…
Surprise, AZ: Surprise Short-Term Rental Permits
Few RestrictionsArizona state law (ARS 9-500.39) preempts cities from requiring local STR permits or licenses. Surprise cannot require a city-issued vacation rental permit. However, operators must…
Short-Term Rental Permits Rules by State
Statewide law governs this topic in many states. Each entry links to that state's full page.
Florida
Heavy RestrictionsFlorida law preempts the regulation of vacation rental licensing and inspections to the state Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR), though local zoning and…
Idaho
Few RestrictionsIdaho Code 67-6539 prohibits cities and counties from outright banning short-term rentals or vacation rentals, while permitting reasonable local regulation tied to health, safety, and…
Indiana
Few RestrictionsIndiana Code 36-1-24 prohibits local units from banning short-term rentals statewide. Cities and counties may impose reasonable regulations on permits, occupancy, noise, and safety…
Rhode Island
Some RestrictionsRhode Island requires statewide registration of short-term rental units rented for under 30 nights with the Department of Business Regulation under R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-63.1-14. Hosts…
Utah
Some RestrictionsUtah Code 10-8-85.4 and 17-50-338 prohibit municipalities and counties from using listings on short-term rental websites alone to fine, prosecute, or punish owners for operating…
Virginia
Some RestrictionsVirginia authorizes localities to require short-term rental registration and establishes a statewide framework allowing zoning permits, fees, and conditions for transient occupancy…
Wisconsin
Some RestrictionsWisconsin requires a tourist rooming house license for a dwelling rented to transients for fewer than 30 days when rented more than 10 nights a year, and Wis. Stat. 66.1014 bars…
Cities & Counties with Short-Term Rental Permits Rules
496 locations
Alabama
Arizona
California
Other Short-Term Rentals Topics
Noise Rules
Noise restrictions that apply specifically to short-term rental properties, including quiet hours and rules about parties and gatherings.
Taxes & Fees
Transient occupancy taxes, tourism fees, and other charges that hosts must collect from guests or pay to the city.
Short-Term Rental Parking Rules
Off-street parking requirements for rental guests, limits on the number of vehicles, and restrictions on street parking near rental properties.
Occupancy Limits
Maximum number of guests allowed per rental unit, often based on the number of bedrooms or square footage of the property.
Insurance Requirements
Liability insurance minimums and other coverage that hosts must carry when renting their property to short-term guests.
Night Caps
Limits on how many nights per year a property can be rented as a short-term rental, sometimes called annual caps or night limits.
Host Presence Rule
Whether your city allows only home-sharing (host on-site during the rental) versus whole-home unhosted rentals, and the enforcement process for violations.
Primary-Residence-Only Rule
Rules limiting short-term rentals to a host's primary residence, including documentation required to prove residency and rules against operating multiple listings.
Extended Home Share
Cities like Los Angeles offer an extended permit allowing year-round whole-home rentals beyond the standard cap, eligibility criteria, fees, and review process.
Repeat Violator Strikes
Three-strike or escalating-penalty systems for hosts with repeated noise, occupancy, or registration violations, including permit revocation thresholds.
Host Platform Liability
When platforms (Airbnb, VRBO) are liable for unpermitted listings, registration-number display rules and platform takedown obligations.