Airbnb & Short-Term Rental Rules in Washington DC, DC (2026)

Washington DC, DC allows short-term rentals — commonly listed on platforms like Airbnb and VRBO — subject to local regulations that have evolved significantly since 2015. Hosts must register with the city (Basic business license with Short-Term Rental endorsement) before listing their property. Washington DC regulates STRs to balance tourism revenue with neighborhood quality of life. Key rules cover primary residence requirements, nightly limits, occupancy caps, and tax collection obligations. Hosts who operate without required registration or in violation of city rules face substantial fines. Below are the current registration requirements, rules, platform-specific notes, and penalties for Washington DC.

Statewide Preemption

Registration Requirements

Registration Required: Basic business license with Short-Term Rental endorsement. Registration fee: varies. Annual renewal: annually. Register through the local building department or local planning department. Your registration number must be displayed on all platform listings. Failure to register before hosting is a violation subject to fines.

Registration Type

Basic business license with Short-Term Rental endorsement · Verified June 4, 2026 · Source

Registration Fee

$104

Annual Renewal

$104

Operational Rules

No specific operational rules listed for short-term rentals in Washington DC beyond standard property codes.

• •Primary residence requirement: property must be operator's primary domicile — cannot be investment property
• •Basic Business License plus Short-Term Rental endorsement required
• •Hosted rentals (owner present): no cap on number of nights per year
• •Unhosted rentals (owner absent): maximum 90 nights per year — hard cap enforced
• •Maximum 8 guests for hosted rentals; smaller limits for unhosted
• •DC Hotel and Transient Accommodations Tax (14.95% combined) applies to all qualifying rentals
• •STR platforms required to verify license and collect/remit taxes
• •Annual safety inspection required for properties with frequent unhosted rentals

Penalties for Violations

Specific penalty amounts for STR violations in Washington DC are not listed. Contact the local planning department for enforcement information.

• ⚠$500 fine for operating without Basic Business License
• ⚠$2,000 fine per day for exceeding 90-night unhosted cap
• ⚠$1,000 fine per violation for license conditions
• ⚠License revocation for repeat violations
• ⚠DC Office of Attorney General enforcement for tax non-remittance

Frequently Asked Questions