How to get a short-term rental permit in Rehoboth Beach, DE (2026)
Rehoboth Beach requires Residential Rental License — the fee is $50, renewed annual. Here's how to get and keep it.
Permit at a glance
| Permit required | Yes |
|---|---|
| Permit name | Residential Rental License |
| Permit fee | $50 |
| Renewal | Annual |
Step by step
- 1
Confirm your property is eligible
Confirm the property's zoning allows short-term rentals. Rehoboth Beach does not confine short-term rentals to particular zoning districts and has no STR overlay; the Residential Rental Ordinance (Chapter 210) applies citywide to single- and multiple-family dwellings 'of any duration,' reflecting the city's finding that homes have long been used in the resort community for rental purposes. Hotels, motels, inns, tourist homes, rooming/boardinghouses, cabins, and cottages are excluded from Chapter 210 and regulated separately under the Zoning Code (Chapter 270).
- 2
Apply for the Residential Rental License
Submit the Residential Rental License application to Rehoboth Beach and pay the $50 fee. Per the city's official application: $50 for each home/condo/apartment with at least one bedroom, plus $20 for each bedroom in excess of two; efficiency apartments (one room and bath) are $41. Example: a 4-bedroom house is $50 + $40 = $90. Several secondary sites claim a $150 annual fee, but that figure does not appear on the city's official application form (posted January 2025).
- 3
Register for occupancy taxes
Register to collect and remit the applicable lodging/occupancy taxes for Rehoboth Beach. Some are collected automatically by the booking platform and some you may need to remit yourself.
- 4
Renew on schedule
The permit renews annual — set a reminder so it never lapses, since operating on an expired permit typically triggers fines.
STR rules change without warning.
Get an email the moment Rehoboth Beach changes its short-term rental rules — plus renewal reminders before your permit expires.
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Verified July 21, 2026. Informational only — not legal, tax, or financial advice. Permit requirements and fees change; confirm current requirements with Rehoboth Beach before applying.