Short-Term Rental Regulations in Pennsylvania

State Overview
Pennsylvania has no state preemption law for STRs. Municipalities retain full authority to regulate or restrict short-term rentals through local zoning ordinances. The state imposes a 6% Hotel Occupancy Tax in addition to any local taxes.

Cities in Pennsylvania

City Permit Tax Rate Day Limit Primary Res.
Philadelphia ✓ Required 14.5% No limit Varies →
Pittsburgh ✓ Required 14% No maximum number of rental days per year under current City of Pittsburgh law. Chapter 781 governs registration, inspection, and permitting of rental units (including short-term homestays) but does not cap annual rental-day usage. Separate STR-specific legislation that could add usage restrictions has been introduced in City Council but was not enacted as of July 2026. No →
Pocono Township ✓ Required 9% No annual cap · per-stay limit No →
State College ✓ Required 11% 120 days Required →

Pennsylvania's STR Landscape

Pennsylvania does not have a uniform STR framework, leaving regulation to individual municipalities. The state imposes a 6% Hotel Occupancy Tax in addition to local taxes.

Regulation varies significantly across cities. Some cities (Philadelphia, State College) require primary residence, while others (Pittsburgh, Pocono Township) allow non-owner-occupied rentals. Tax rates vary from 9% to 14.5%.

Popular Short-Term Rental Markets

High-demand markets in other states — compare their permit, tax, and day-limit rules:

Other States

Alabama 2 cities Alaska 1 city Arizona 8 cities Arkansas 3 cities California 28 cities Colorado 12 cities Connecticut 1 city Delaware 2 cities District of Columbia 1 city Florida 24 cities Georgia 6 cities Hawaii 4 cities Idaho 3 cities Illinois 2 cities Indiana 2 cities Kentucky 2 cities Louisiana 1 city Maine 4 cities Maryland 3 cities Massachusetts 6 cities Michigan 4 cities Minnesota 1 city Mississippi 2 cities Missouri 4 cities Montana 3 cities Nevada 1 city New Hampshire 2 cities New Jersey 5 cities New Mexico 3 cities New York 5 cities North Carolina 7 cities Ohio 3 cities Oklahoma 3 cities Oregon 3 cities Rhode Island 2 cities South Carolina 7 cities South Dakota 2 cities Tennessee 7 cities Texas 13 cities Utah 7 cities Vermont 2 cities Virginia 6 cities Washington 4 cities West Virginia 1 city Wisconsin 4 cities Wyoming 1 city