RentPermitted is an independent research project tracking short-term rental regulations across the United States. We build city-by-city compliance guides for Airbnb, Vrbo, and vacation rental hosts : covering permit requirements, tax obligations, operating rules, enforcement trends, and investor viability.
Who we are
RentPermitted is operated by a small team of researchers and STR hosts who got tired of hunting through .gov websites and expired blog posts for accurate compliance information. We're not a government agency, not a booking platform, and not paid by any city to promote (or discourage) STR activity. We fund the site ourselves and make our money through affiliate partnerships : clearly disclosed on every page.
What we cover
- 26 US cities across 18 states : from Austin to Washington DC
- License types and fees : exact dollar amounts from official .gov sources, cross-verified against municipal codes
- Tax rates : city, county, and state-level obligations, verified against official tax rate schedules
- Operating rules : noise, occupancy, safety requirements, and zoning restrictions
- Enforcement risks : penalties, compliance deadlines, and platform verification mandates
- Investor analysis : independent 5-dimension scorecards, year-1 cost estimates, and market viability verdicts you won't find on any government website
Our methodology
Every city page is built from primary government sources. For each of our 26 cities, we:
- Pull the current STR ordinance from the city's municipal code (usually via Municode or local .gov)
- Cross-check fees and tax rates against the city's official fee schedule and tax rate page
- Verify enforcement mechanisms against official city memos and press releases
- Supplement with market data from AirDNA, AirROI, and StaySTRA for investor analysis
- Re-verify any data point that comes from a non-government source against at least one .gov source
We've cross-referenced over 75 official government sources across municipal codes, city council ordinances, tax collector pages, and development services departments. Every data claim on a city page traces back to a specific .gov URL or published government document.
How often we update
Regulations change : sometimes overnight. We run automated monitoring on key .gov pages and re-verify city data on a rolling monthly schedule. When a city passes a new STR ordinance, we update the page within 48 hours. Every page displays its last verification date. If you spot outdated information, we fix it within 48 hours of being notified.
What we're not
RentPermitted is not a government agency. We do not issue permits or licenses. We are not affiliated with Airbnb, Vrbo, or any booking platform. Our information is for reference only : always verify with your local government before listing your property. We are not lawyers and nothing on this site constitutes legal advice.
Contact
For corrections, updates, city requests, or questions: Contact page