Short-Term Rental Laws,
Plain & Simple

Real estate investors: stop digging through confusing municipal websites. We decode Airbnb laws for 50+ US cities so you can invest with confidence.

25
Cities Covered
15
Restricted Markets
5
Investor-Friendly
3
Heavily Restricted

Browse All Cities

New York City

New York
⛔ Banned

New York City has the strictest STR laws in the USA. Under Local Law 18 (effective Sept 2023), hosts must register and b...

📋 Permit req'd 🏠 Must be present

Los Angeles

California
⚠️ Restricted

LA allows primary residence STR up to 120 nights/year with a permit. Non-primary residences (investment properties) cann...

📋 Permit req'd 📅 120 nights/yr max

Miami

Florida
🔍 Varies

Miami STR rules vary dramatically by neighborhood. South Beach, Brickell, and downtown zones allow STRs with a Business ...

📋 Permit req'd

Nashville

Tennessee
⚠️ Restricted

Nashville froze new non-owner-occupied STR permits in residential zones in 2023. Existing permit holders can renew. Owne...

📋 Permit req'd

Austin

Texas
⚠️ Restricted

Austin requires an STR license ($621/yr) for all short-term rentals. Type 2 STRs (non-owner-occupied) are banned in resi...

📋 Permit req'd

Denver

Colorado
⚠️ Restricted

Denver requires STRs to be the host's primary residence — no investor-owned STRs allowed. License costs $100/year. Platf...

📋 Permit req'd

San Francisco

California
⚠️ Restricted

San Francisco caps unhosted STRs at 90 nights/year. Hosted STRs (host present) have no cap. Primary residence only. Plat...

📋 Permit req'd 📅 90 nights/yr max

Chicago

Illinois
⚠️ Restricted

Chicago requires a Shared Housing Unit License ($125/yr) for all STRs. Building must allow STRs in its condo declaration...

📋 Permit req'd

Seattle

Washington
⚠️ Restricted

Seattle limits STR operators to 2 units. Primary residence + one additional unit maximum. License required ($75 primary,...

📋 Permit req'd

Phoenix

Arizona
✅ Friendly

Arizona state law (ARS 9-500.39) preempts cities from banning STRs. Phoenix requires a simple notification and Transacti...

📋 Permit req'd

Scottsdale

Arizona
✅ Friendly

Scottsdale is a top STR market with strong demand for vacation rentals. License required ($250/yr). Must post license nu...

📋 Permit req'd

Orlando

Florida
🔍 Varies

Florida regulates STRs at state level via DBPR. Orlando city adds zoning restrictions — STRs prohibited in most resident...

📋 Permit req'd

Las Vegas

Nevada
⚠️ Restricted

Las Vegas city proper heavily restricts STRs — most residential areas prohibit them. The Strip is in unincorporated Clar...

📋 Permit req'd

Charleston

South Carolina
⚠️ Restricted

Charleston caps STR licenses per neighborhood to prevent over-saturation. Some areas (French Quarter, Cannonborough-Elli...

📋 Permit req'd

Savannah

Georgia
⚠️ Restricted

Savannah requires a certificate for all STRs. In the Historic District, STRs are limited to tourist accommodation distri...

📋 Permit req'd

Portland

Oregon
⚠️ Restricted

Portland requires host to be primary resident. Non-owner-occupied STRs are prohibited. Max 2 bedrooms rented, max 5 gues...

📋 Permit req'd 🏠 Must be present

Boston

Massachusetts
⚠️ Restricted

Boston limits STRs to owner's primary residence only. Investor-owned properties cannot operate STRs. Platforms must veri...

📋 Permit req'd

Washington DC

District of Columbia
⚠️ Restricted

DC requires STRs to be the host's primary residence. Non-owner occupied STRs are banned. License includes both STR and B...

📋 Permit req'd

Honolulu

Hawaii
⛔ Banned

Honolulu (Bill 41, 2022) effectively banned most STRs outside of resort-zoned areas. Non-hosted STRs require a minimum 9...

📋 Permit req'd

Gulf Shores

Alabama
✅ Friendly

Gulf Shores is one of Alabama's top STR markets. The city is very STR-friendly — no owner-occupancy requirement, no nigh...

📋 Permit req'd

Gatlinburg

Tennessee
✅ Friendly

Gatlinburg is one of the most STR-permissive markets in the US — the entire economy is built around vacation rentals and...

📋 Permit req'd

Myrtle Beach

South Carolina
✅ Friendly

Myrtle Beach is a major vacation destination with a very permissive STR environment. The city relies heavily on STR tour...

📋 Permit req'd

San Diego

California
⚠️ Restricted

San Diego's STR regulations (effective 2023) limit whole-home STRs to primary residences only, capped at 1% of housing s...

📋 Permit req'd

Miami Beach

Florida
⛔ Banned

Miami Beach has some of the highest STR fines in the US — up to $100,000 per violation. STRs are banned in most resident...

📋 Permit req'd

New Orleans

Louisiana
⚠️ Restricted

New Orleans restricts non-owner-occupied STRs to commercial districts only. Residential STRs (owner-occupied) allowed wi...

📋 Permit req'd

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Why This Database?

🏙️ Plain English

Municipal websites are written by lawyers for lawyers. We translate every rule into clear investor-friendly language.

⚡ Investor-Focused

We surface what matters: permit costs, owner-occupancy rules, night caps, fines, and platform bans — nothing else.

🔄 Regularly Updated

STR laws change constantly. Each city page shows the last verified date so you know how fresh the data is.