Zoning Glossary

STR Day Limit

An STR day limit — also called an annual night cap — is a regulatory tool that restricts the total number of nights per year a residential property may be rented on a short-term basis. Day limits are one of the most consequential mechanisms cities use to balance housing availability with short-term rental activity. The applicable cap, if any, varies by city and by permit type, and is frequently tied to whether the host is present during the guest's stay.

STR

In Practice

Cities impose annual night caps to limit the conversion of long-term housing units into effectively full-time short-term rentals. Hosted rentals — where the owner is present on-site throughout the guest's stay — are frequently exempt from annual caps, while unhosted or whole-home rentals typically face the most restrictive limits. Exceeding an applicable night cap exposes hosts to per-day fines and risk of losing their STR registration.

Source: Airbnb & Short-Term Rental Regulations: Every Major US City · Verified April 5, 2026

Related Terms

Short-Term RentalSTR RegistrationPlatform Tax Collection

Related Guides

Airbnb & Short-Term Rental Regulations: Every Major US City

Source: PropertyZoned Zoning Guide — Airbnb & Short-Term Rental Regulations: Every Major US City. Last verified April 5, 2026.

Last updated: April 5, 2026
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STR Day Limit — Zoning Term Definition | PropertyZoned