How to get a short-term rental permit in Pittsburgh, PA (2026)
Pittsburgh requires Rental Permit (Residential Housing Rental Permit Program) — the fee is $16, renewed annual. Here's how to get and keep it.
Permit at a glance
| Permit required | Yes |
|---|---|
| Permit name | Rental Permit (Residential Housing Rental Permit Program) |
| Permit fee | $16 |
| Renewal | Annual |
Step by step
- 1
Confirm your property is eligible
Confirm the property's zoning allows short-term rentals. The current Pittsburgh Zoning Code (Title Nine) contains no short-term-rental use category, so STRs are not restricted to particular zones today — the citywide rental permit requirement is the operative rule. That is changing: a zoning ordinance (file 2025-2082, introduced 7/15/2025, died at end of the 2025 session) was reintroduced and advanced in February 2026; it would add 'Short-Term Rental' as a primary and accessory use, require zoning approval for non-owner-occupied STRs in residential districts, cap STRs at 2 units in buildings with 20 or fewer units and 5 in larger buildings (generally 1 per residential lot), ban parties, and cap stays at 28 days. A June 2026 revision would eliminate the special-exception path entirely for non-primary-residence STRs in residential zones. The Planning Commission is reviewing; a final Council vote is expected fall 2026 at the earliest.
- 2
Apply for the Rental Permit (Residential Housing Rental Permit Program)
Submit the Rental Permit (Residential Housing Rental Permit Program) application to Pittsburgh and pay the $16 fee. 2025 fee schedule: $16.00 flat registration fee per rental unit, plus a $5.50 flat inspection fee and $14.00 per dwelling or sleeping unit inspection fee — so a single-unit STR's first registration totals $35.50; the city's example for a 4-unit building is $77.50. Renewal after passing inspection is $16.00. Per PLI Rules (Rule 3.C.5), only the $14.00 per-unit inspection fee for an owner-occupied dwelling/sleeping unit within a rental unit is exempt (natural-person owners only); the registration fee, general inspection fee, and per-unit fees for all other units remain applicable.
- 3
Register for occupancy taxes
Register to collect and remit the applicable lodging/occupancy taxes for Pittsburgh. 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 Pittsburgh 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 Pittsburgh before applying.