STR Rule Watch Research
The State of STR Regulation: 45 US Markets Analyzed (2026)
Across the 45 US short-term rental markets we track, 98% require a permit or license (median cost $300), 24% restrict rentals to a host's own residence in some form, and 82% make hosts renew annually. Rules are still moving: we've logged 32 regulation changes in 2026 so far, 23 of them material. All figures are computed live from our source-verified database.
98%
of markets require a permit or license
$300
median permit fee where required
24%
limit STRs to the host's residence in some form
49%
are restricted, residence-only, or banned outright
82%
require annual renewal
32
rule changes logged in 2026 so far
The 10 most expensive permits we track
| Market | Permit | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| San Diego, CA | Short-Term Residential Occupancy (STRO) License (Tiers 1-4) | $1,170 |
| Palm Springs, CA | Vacation Rental Registration Certificate | $1,046 |
| Honolulu, HI | Short-Term Rental Registration (certificate of registration as a Bed and Breakfast Home (B&B) or Transient Vacation Unit (TVU), issued by the Department of Planning and Permitting) | $1,000 |
| Yucca Valley, CA | Temporary Short-Term Vacation Rental Permit (TSTVRP) | $973 |
| San Francisco, CA | Short-Term Residential Rental Certificate (Office of Short-Term Rentals registry) | $925 |
| Austin, TX | Short-Term Rental (STR) Operating License | $836.30 |
| Breckenridge, CO | Accommodation Unit License (with prerequisite Business and Occupational License, 'BOLT') | $756 |
| Big Bear Lake, CA | Vacation Rental License (City of Big Bear Lake Vacation Rental Program registration) | $635 |
| South Lake Tahoe, CA | Vacation Home Rental (VHR) Permit | $548 |
| Destin, FL | Short-Term Rental Registration (separate 'Condo STR Rental Registration' application for condominiums) | $500 |
Method & reuse
Figures are computed from the STR Rule Watch regulation database: every data point is extracted from official sources (municipal codes, city licensing pages, state statutes) with per-field source quotes, then human-reviewed before being marked verified — the full process is on our methodology page. Markets still awaiting final human review are labeled on their pages.
Journalists and researchers:you're welcome to cite these figures with attribution and a link to this page. For the underlying dataset or custom cuts by state or market type, email data@shortrentalrules.com.