Airbnb Rules by City: Short Term Rental Laws, Permits, and Legality in 2026

Short term rental rules change by city, and they change often. A property that is fully compliant in one market can be capped, permit gated, or restricted to a primary residence one county over. This hub collects our city by city guides in one place, so you can find the local rules, the permit path, and the legal status for your market without hunting across the site.

Each city below links to up to three guides: the local rules and night caps, the short term rental permit or registration process, and a plain answer to whether Airbnb is legal there. Treat these as a starting map for your research, then confirm the current rule with the city or county before you list a property.

Verify before you host. These guides summarize well established regulatory postures, not live government portals. City councils revise short term rental ordinances throughout the year. Always confirm the current rule with the city, the county, or your local planning office before you book guests.

What each guide answers

The three guide types answer three different questions, and most hosts need all three before they commit to a market.

Local rules: the night caps, primary residence requirements, zoning limits, and registration triggers that govern how you can operate.
Permit: the step by step registration or licensing process, the documents you need, and the fees and renewals that apply.
Legality: a plain answer to whether short term rentals are allowed, in which zones, and under what conditions.

United States cities

Twenty of the most active short term rental markets in the United States, from regulated metros to high demand vacation towns. Click any cell to open that city's guide.

City	Local rules	Permit	Legality
Nashville	Rules	Permit	Legality
Scottsdale	Rules	Permit	Legality
Denver	Rules	Permit	Legality
Austin	Rules	Permit	Legality
Miami	Rules	Permit	Legality
New Orleans	Rules	Permit	Legality
Savannah	Rules	Permit	Legality
Charleston	Rules	Permit	Legality
Sedona	Rules	Permit	Legality
Palm Springs	Rules	Permit	Legality
San Diego	Rules	Permit	Legality
Chicago	Rules	Permit	Legality
Boston	Rules	Permit	Legality
Atlanta	Rules	Permit	Legality
Dallas	Rules	Permit	Legality
Houston	Rules	Permit	Legality
Orlando	Rules	Permit	Legality
Las Vegas	Rules	Permit	Legality
Portland	Rules	Permit	Legality
Seattle	Rules	Permit	Legality

Australia cities

Ten Australian markets, where state planning rules and council registers increasingly shape what hosts can do. A few legality guides are still in progress and will link here as they publish.

City	Local rules	Permit	Legality
Sydney	Rules	Permit	Legality
Melbourne	Rules	Permit	Legality
Brisbane	Rules	Permit	Legality
Gold Coast	Rules	Permit	Legality
Sunshine Coast	Rules	Permit	Legality
Perth	Rules	Permit	Legality
Cairns	Rules	Permit	Legality
Adelaide	Rules	Permit	Guide in progress
Byron Bay	Rules	Permit	Guide in progress
Hobart	Rules	Permit	Guide in progress

How to use these city guides

Start with the legality guide to confirm short term rentals are allowed in your market at all. Move to the permit guide to map the registration steps and costs. Finish with the local rules guide to set up your operation inside the night caps and zoning limits. Reading all three before you sign a lease or list a property is the cheapest insurance you can buy.

One market at a time. Regulation is the single most common reason a promising short term rental turns into a stranded asset. A focused hour with the three guides for your city is worth more than a week of generic advice.

Frequently asked questions

How current are these city guides?

They reflect the established regulatory posture of each market at the time of writing. Ordinances change, so every guide tells you to confirm the live rule with the city before you act. Use the guides to understand the shape of the rules, not as a substitute for the city's current code.

Why do some cities have a legality guide and others do not yet?

We publish guides in waves. Where a legality cell reads "Guide in progress," the rules and permit guides are live and the legality guide is being written. Check back, or start with the two guides that are already published.

Do these rules apply to rental arbitrage as well as owned property?

Yes. Permit requirements, night caps, and primary residence rules apply to the operator regardless of whether you own the unit or lease it. If anything, arbitrage hosts need the permit and legality guides earlier, because a landlord's permission does not override a city ordinance.

What if my city is not listed?

This hub covers thirty of the highest demand markets. The same research method applies anywhere: confirm legality, find the permit process, then learn the local rules. The city guides show you exactly what to look for.