Short-term rental permit rules in Montgomery County, PA — also called Airbnb permits, vacation rental licenses, or STR registration — list the application steps, fees, and operating requirements for hosting.
Montgomery County does not regulate short-term rentals. Under the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code (53 P.S. §10617), STR permitting is handled by individual townships and boroughs. Pennsylvania imposes a 6% statewide hotel occupancy tax under 72 P.S. §7210 on stays under 30 days, and Montgomery County imposes a 4% local hotel room rental tax authorized by the Second Class A County Code.
Under the PA Municipalities Planning Code, counties in Pennsylvania have no zoning or land-use authority. STR registration, density caps, and operational rules are set by each township or borough. Some Montgomery County municipalities — notably Lower Merion Township — have adopted STR-specific zoning amendments; many others have no STR ordinance and treat short-term rentals as a permitted residential use. Regardless of municipal rules, all hosts must collect and remit the 6% Pennsylvania hotel occupancy tax under 72 P.S. §7210 for any stay under 30 days. Montgomery County imposes a separate 4% county hotel room rental tax under authority granted in 16 P.S. §1770.7 (Second Class A County Code). Major platforms (Airbnb, Vrbo) typically collect and remit the state tax automatically; county tax compliance varies. Hosts must verify with the Montgomery County Treasurer whether platform collection covers the county tax. PA Act 45 (UCC) building/fire code requirements apply.
Failure to remit Pennsylvania hotel occupancy tax under 72 P.S. §7268 carries penalties of 5% per month up to a 25% maximum, plus interest at the legal rate. Municipal STR violations are enforced under PA MPC §617.2 (53 P.S. §10617.2) with fines up to $500 per day. Operating without required municipal registration or zoning approval can result in cease-and-desist orders.
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