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

Significant Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified August 2026

Key Facts

Governing section
Pittsburgh Code § 781.05, Fees
STR coverage
Homestays are 'rental units' (§ 781.01(i))
Fee basis
Set annually via Chapter 170 schedule
Registration term
Renewed/reviewed each year
Enforcing agency
Permits, Licenses & Inspections

Summary

Pittsburgh treats Airbnb-style short-term homestays as rental units under its Residential Housing Rental Permit Program, so hosts pay the same annual registration fee landlords pay, set yearly through the City's Chapter 170 fee schedule rather than a dollar figure fixed in the ordinance text.

(a) In accordance with Chapter 170 of the City Code, the City Council shall establish an appropriate fee for rental permit registration and may review and increase such fees on an annual basis. (b) Fee schedule: Annual rental registration fees shall be reviewed and set annually in accordance with Chapter 170 of the City Code.

Source: City of PhiladelphiaView official code

Full Breakdown

Pittsburgh Code § 781.01(i) defines 'rental unit' to include domiciles used as short-term homestays and experiences, pulling Airbnb/VRBO-style hosts into Chapter 781's Residential Housing Rental Permit Program. Under § 781.05, City Council sets and may raise the annual rental permit registration fee each year through the Chapter 170 fee schedule; the amount is not printed in the ordinance itself. There is no separate short-term-rental or hotel occupancy tax in the city code: hotels, motels, and properties inspected by the Allegheny County Health Department are expressly exempted from Chapter 781, while occupancy/excise taxes on lodging are handled outside the municipal code.

Violations & Fines

Operating a short-term homestay without a current rental permit is a summary offense: fines up to $500 per unit for each month the unit is unregistered or unpermitted, plus possible permit revocation, under Pittsburgh Code § 781.09.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Pittsburgh charge a separate short-term rental or Airbnb tax?
No. The city code has no standalone STR tax; short-term homestays are classified as 'rental units' under § 781.01(i) and pay the same annual rental registration fee as any landlord.
How much is Pittsburgh's short-term rental registration fee?
The ordinance doesn't fix a dollar amount. § 781.05 has City Council set and adjust the fee every year through the Chapter 170 annual fee schedule.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Pittsburgh

Noise Ordinances: Construction HoursSome RestrictionsShort-Term Rental PermitsSignificant RestrictionsShort-Term Rental Parking RulesSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Towing & Impound RightsSignificant RestrictionsParking Rules: EV ChargingSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Preferential Parking DistrictsSome RestrictionsFence Regulations: Material RestrictionsSome RestrictionsLandscaping Rules: Tree Removal & Heritage TreesSome Restrictions

All Pittsburgh rules

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

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