STR Laws by City
Short-Term Rental Laws by City
The current rules for running an Airbnb or vacation rental in 30 major US markets — permits, occupancy taxes, caps, and penalties — compiled from official city, county, and state sources, with citations. Updated as the rules change.
Austin
Texas
STRs PermittedSTRs are now allowed in all residential zones citywide under the 2025 rules — even tenants can host with landlord permission.
Nashville
Tennessee
Permitted with ConditionsAllowed with a permit, but new non-owner-occupied STRs are banned in most residential zones — owner-occupied is the residential path.
Scottsdale
Arizona
STRs PermittedSTRs are legal citywide — Arizona state law blocks Scottsdale from banning them in residential areas.
New York City
New York
Prohibited in Most AreasUnder-30-day rentals only in your own home, with you present the whole stay — whole-apartment short stays are effectively banned.
Denver
Colorado
Permitted with ConditionsOnly your primary residence can be a short-term rental — pure investment STRs are off the table.
Destin / 30A
Florida
STRs PermittedSTRs are broadly legal along the Emerald Coast; Florida law limits how far cities can restrict them.
Panama City Beach
Florida
STRs PermittedSTRs are legal in Panama City Beach; the city regulates through registration and safety rules, not zoning bans.
Gulf Shores
Alabama
STRs PermittedSTRs are legal but zoning-dependent — single-family and duplex rentals need to sit in the tourist rental overlay areas.
Gatlinburg
Tennessee
STRs PermittedCabins are broadly rentable, but rules differ inside Gatlinburg city limits versus unincorporated Sevier County.
Palm Springs
California
Permitted with ConditionsSTRs are legal but capped — no new certificates in any neighborhood already at the 20% density ceiling.
San Diego
California
Permitted with ConditionsSTRs are legal under a four-tier license system; whole-home rentals are numerically capped citywide.
Miami / Miami Beach
Florida
Prohibited in Most AreasMiami Beach bans rentals under six months in most residential districts — only specific zones allow short stays at all.
Savannah
Georgia
Permitted with ConditionsSTRs are legal with a certificate, but non-owner-occupied units are capped per ward in the historic districts.
Orlando / Kissimmee
Florida
Permitted with ConditionsOrlando residential zones allow only host-present home sharing; whole-home STRs live in Kissimmee/Osceola tourist zones.
Asheville
North Carolina
Prohibited in Most AreasWhole-home short-term rentals are banned outside the Resort district; hosted homestays are the only residential path.
New Orleans
Louisiana
Permitted with ConditionsLegal only with a city permit: NSTR in residential zones (one per square, resident operator) or CSTR in commercial zones; French Quarter mostly banned.
Charleston
South Carolina
Permitted with ConditionsPermit required citywide. Commercial category in commercially zoned overlay; Residential Categories 1-3 with strict limits (1 STR unit/property).
Sedona
Arizona
STRs PermittedSTRs are legal citywide under Arizona preemption (A.R.S. 9-500.39); you must hold a Sedona permit and AZ TPT license before renting.
Las Vegas / Clark County
Nevada
Permitted with ConditionsLegal with a license in both jurisdictions, but the City requires owner-occupancy and Clark County's application window is currently closed.
Phoenix
Arizona
Permitted with ConditionsLegal citywide â Arizona preempts local bans (A.R.S. § 9-500.39) â but renting without a Phoenix STR permit is prohibited.
Myrtle Beach
South Carolina
Permitted with ConditionsAllowed only in STR-permitted zones (e.g., RMV and visitor/commercial districts); zones starting with 'R' prohibit rentals under 90 days.
Galveston
Texas
STRs PermittedSTRs are legal citywide in Galveston with no zoning restrictions â you can operate anywhere once registered with the city.
South Lake Tahoe
California
Permitted with ConditionsYou can operate with a city VHR permit; residential zones have a 900-permit cap, Tourist Core and other non-residential zones are uncapped.
Big Bear Lake
California
Permitted with ConditionsYou can operate anywhere in city limits, but each home needs a city vacation rental (TPHR) license before its first booking.
Joshua Tree
California
STRs PermittedSTRs are allowed in Joshua Tree and other unincorporated desert areas with a county Short-Term Rental permit (rentals of 30 days or less).
Branson
Missouri
Permitted with ConditionsLegal but zoning-restricted: STRs (1-30 nights) allowed only where zoning permits; check the city's GIS nightly-rental lookup per address.
Chicago
Illinois
Permitted with ConditionsLegal with a city registration for rentals of 31 days or fewer; primary-residence rules apply in single-family homes and 2-4 unit buildings.
Seattle
Washington
Permitted with ConditionsLegal citywide with an operator license, but capped at 2 units (primary residence + 1), with legacy exceptions for pre-Sept 2017 operators.
Honolulu / Oahu
Hawaii
Prohibited in Most AreasUnder-30-day rentals allowed only in resort zones and select mapped apartment zones; elsewhere only legacy NUC holders may operate.
Park City
Utah
Permitted with ConditionsZone-dependent: allowed in designated nightly-rental districts (resort/Old Town areas), restricted or prohibited in others per the Land Management Code.
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