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Lancaster County, PA Short-Term Rentals: Taxes & Fees (2026)

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

Key Facts

Hotel room rental tax
3.9% on gross receipts
County hotel excise tax
1.1% (combined 5.0% county)
Collected by
Lancaster County Treasurer
Return due
By the 25th monthly
Funds
Convention center and tourism (Discover Lancaster)

Summary

Lancaster County levies a hotel room rental tax (3.9%) plus a county hotel excise tax (1.1%) on lodging patrons countywide, collected by the County Treasurer. The revenue benefits the Lancaster City Conference/Convention Center and promotes tourism (Discover Lancaster). Returns are due monthly. Pennsylvania's 6% state sales/occupancy tax applies on top.

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.

These taxes, levied on the patrons of the hotels in Lancaster County, are intended to benefit the Lancaster City Conference/Convention Center and to promote the tourism industry in Lancaster. The Treasurer is assigned the authority and responsibility to collect the Lancaster County hotel room rental tax and the county hotel excise tax.

View official code

Full Breakdown

The county hotel tax is the one genuinely county-level short-term-rental obligation in Lancaster County. The County levies two taxes on hotel and short-term-rental patrons: a 3.9% hotel room rental tax and a 1.1% county hotel excise tax, for a combined 5.0% county rate on gross rental receipts. The County Treasurer is assigned authority and responsibility to collect both, and operators (including booking agents and STR hosts) register with the Treasurer's office and file returns on or before the 25th of each month for the prior month. The stated purpose is to benefit the Lancaster City Conference/Convention Center and to promote the tourism industry in Lancaster - the funding stream behind Discover Lancaster.

Violations & Fines

The County Treasurer administers collection and enforcement of the hotel room rental and excise taxes.

Frequently Asked Questions

What hotel tax does Lancaster County charge on short-term rentals?
A 3.9% hotel room rental tax plus a 1.1% county hotel excise tax (5.0% combined) on gross rental receipts, collected by the County Treasurer, with returns due by the 25th of each month. Pennsylvania's 6% state occupancy tax applies on
What does the Lancaster County hotel tax pay for?
The taxes benefit the Lancaster City Conference/Convention Center and promote the county's tourism industry - the funding stream behind Discover Lancaster. Bed and Breakfast Homestead/Inn establishments are exempt from the 3.9% room rental tax.

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 RestrictionsOccupancy LimitsSome RestrictionsShort-Term Rental Parking RulesSome RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Vehicle NoiseSome RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Leaf Blower RulesSome RestrictionsNoise Ordinances: Barking DogsSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Loading ZonesSome Restrictions

All Lancaster County rules

How Lancaster County compares: Cities with the Highest Short-Term Rental Taxes·Compare Lancaster County to another location·View the Pennsylvania short-term rentals overview

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