Short-term rental permit rules in Philadelphia, PA — also called Airbnb permits, vacation rental licenses, or STR registration — list the application steps, fees, and operating requirements for hosting.
Philadelphia's 2021 Short-Term Rental ordinance requires a Limited Lodging Operator License for hosted rentals (primary residence) and a Visitor Accommodations License plus zoning approval for non-primary STRs, which are capped at 180 days per year. All listings must display the city license number.
Philadelphia overhauled its short-term rental regulations under Bill No. 200351 (enacted 2021, effective 2022), now codified at Phila. Code §9-3800 and §14-604(13). The city distinguishes between two types of STRs: (1) Limited Lodging — rentals in a host's primary residence (the host lives there at least 184 days/year), and (2) Visitor Accommodations — rentals in a non-primary residence such as an investment property.
Limited Lodging operators need a Limited Lodging Operator License ($150/year) from L&I plus a Commercial Activity License and BIRT account. Visitor Accommodations require a more rigorous Visitor Accommodations License, zoning approval (the property must be in a zoning district that permits visitor accommodations or have a use variance), and are capped at 180 rental days per calendar year. Both license types require the city license number to appear in every online listing; platforms like Airbnb and Vrbo are required to verify the license before publishing.
Operators collect and remit the 8.5% Philadelphia Hotel Tax in addition to the 7% Pennsylvania state hotel occupancy tax. Failure to license, exceeding the 180-day cap, or operating in a non-permitted zone is a violation of both Title 9 and the Zoning Code (Title 14).
Operating without the required license: $2,000 per day per occurrence. Exceeding the 180-day cap for non-primary STRs: zoning violation up to $2,000/day. Failure to display license in listing: $300 first offense, $700 subsequent. Platforms can be fined for hosting unlicensed listings.
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See how Philadelphia's permit requirements rules stack up against other locations.
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