Washington, DC Short-Term Rentals: Short-Term Rental Permits (2026)
Short-term rental permit rules in Washington, DC, also called Airbnb permits, vacation rental licenses, or STR registration, list the application steps, fees, and operating requirements for hosting.
Key Facts
- Law
- D.C. Law 22-307
- Host Present
- Unlimited nights
- Host Absent
- Max 90 nights/year
- License Fee
- $104.50 (2-year)
- Insurance
- $250,000 minimum
Summary
DC requires a license to operate any short-term rental under the Short-Term Rental Regulation Act of 2018 (D.C. Law 22-307, DC Code 30-201.01 et seq.). Two license types exist: Short-Term Rental (host present, unlimited nights) and Vacation Rental (host absent, max 90 nights per year). Only primary residences eligible for the Homestead Tax Deduction qualify.
For the purposes of this subchapter, the term:
(1) "Booking service" means any person or entity that facilitates short-term rental reservations and collects payment for lodging in a short-term rental. A booking service shall be a room remarketer within the meaning of § 47-2001(o-1).
(2) "Department" means the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection or its successor agency.
(3) "Host" means a natural person who uses a booking service to provide a short-term rental to a transient guest. A host shall be a vendor within the meaning of §§ 47-2001(w) and 47-2201(g).
(4) "Primary residence" means the property is eligible for the homestead deduction pursuant to § 47-850.
(5) "Short-term rental" means paid lodging for transient guests with the host present, unless it is a vacation rental. A short-term rental is not a hotel, inn, motel, boarding house, rooming house, or bed and breakfast. A short-term rental operates within a portion of the host's residential property, unless it is a vacation rental.
(6) "Vacation rental" means a short-term rental that operates within a host's residential property wherein a transient guest has exclusive use of the host's property during the transient guest's stay and the host is not present on the premises. A vacation rental is subject to additional restrictions, including § 30-201.06(e).
Full Breakdown
The Short-Term Rental Regulation Act of 2018 (D.C. Law 22-307) established DC's licensing framework. Hosts must obtain a license through the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (DLCP). Two license types are available: (1) Short-Term Rental License for host-present rentals with no night limit, and (2) Vacation Rental License for host-absent rentals capped at 90 nights per year. The property must be the host's primary residence and eligible for the Homestead Tax Deduction. LLCs, corporations, and tenants cannot operate STRs. The two-year license costs $104.50 ($70 processing + $25 endorsement + 10% technology fee). Hosts must carry minimum $250,000 liability insurance. Safety requirements include smoke detectors on all habitable floors, CO detectors, unobstructed egress, and clean linens between guests.
Violations & Fines
First violation: $250 fine. Second violation: $500. Third and subsequent: $1,000 each. Operating without a license subjects the host to all applicable penalties plus back taxes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to list my property on Airbnb in Washington?
What are the short-term rental registration requirements in Washington?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Washington
How Washington compares: Most Airbnb-Friendly Cities in America·Compare Washington to another location·View the District of Columbia short-term rentals overview
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