Short-term rental rules · Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Short-term rentals in Philadelphia, explained properly.
Philadelphia allows two kinds of short-term rental (under 30 days). Limited lodging is renting a home that has a primary resident, who lives there at least six months a year; it needs a Commercial Activity License, a zoning permit and a Limited Lodging Operator License. Visitor accommodation, with no primary resident, is a commercial use that the zoning code doesn't allow in lower-density residential neighborhoods; it needs a zoning permit and a Rental License with a hotel designation. Hosts may advertise only through licensed booking agents and must show their license number. Guests pay 15.5% in hotel taxes.
At a glance
What you need to know before you buy or list
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Two kinds of short-term rental | Limited lodging: renting a unit that has a primary resident, an accessory use to household living. Visitor accommodation: a unit with no primary resident, treated as a commercial business[1][2] |
| Who counts as a primary resident | Someone who lives in the unit at least six months a year; limited lodging hosts must keep records for at least a year showing it stayed their primary residence, the dates rented and the number of renters[2][1] |
| Investor (visitor accommodation) rentals | Not permitted in lower-density residential neighborhoods; allowed by right only in some districts that allow commercial or industrial uses. Check the address with the city's Zoning Summary Generator[2] |
| Licenses and permits | Every short-term rental needs a Commercial Activity License and a zoning permit, plus a Limited Lodging Operator License (limited lodging) or a Rental License with a hotel designation (visitor accommodation). The license number must appear in every advertisement, and operators may advertise only through a licensed Limited Lodging and Hotels Booking Agent[1][2] |
| Limited lodging house rules | Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms as specified; no lodging signs or changes that make the home look non-residential; no more than three unrelated occupants (owner and renters combined); guests only between 8 a.m. and midnight; trash days and other disclosures given to renters[1] |
| Taxes | 15.5%: Philadelphia's 8.5% hotel tax, paid monthly to the city, plus Pennsylvania's 6% hotel occupancy tax and the 1% local hotel tax the state collects for Philadelphia[1][3] |
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We read the city's short-term rental service page in a browser, L&I's Limited Lodging FAQ (revised September 2025) and the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue home-sharing page. License fees weren't listed in the sources read. Watch City Council and L&I for changes to limited lodging and booking-agent rules.
Sources
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This page is general information compiled from public sources, not legal or tax advice. HOA rules, deed restrictions and zoning for a specific property can be stricter. Confirm with the local permitting office and a qualified professional before buying or listing a property.