Short-Term Rental Regulations
in Rehoboth Beach, DE

Airbnb listings are allowed in Rehoboth Beach, DE, but with restrictions. Rentals are restricted to appropriately zoned residential units and require a Residential Rental License. Overnight occupancy is limited to two persons per bedroom plus two additional persons (children ≤6 excluded). Hosts must provide a 24/7 local contact, post the license and contact info in the unit, and perform an annual life-safety self-inspection. A permit is required before you can host. These rules apply to all short-term rental platforms (Airbnb, Vrbo, Booking.com, etc.) — not just Airbnb specifically. See the official source linked on this page for full requirements. Last verified 2026-05-14.

Rentals are restricted to appropriately zoned residential units and require a Residential Rental License. Overnight occupancy is limited to two persons per bedroom plus two additional persons (children ≤6 excluded). Hosts must provide a 24/7 local contact, post the license and contact info in the unit, and perform an annual life-safety self-inspection.

Yes, a permit is required to operate a short-term rental in Rehoboth Beach. 1) Complete the City Residential Rental License application and provide proof of ownership, owner ID, and evidence of tax payment. 2) Designate a local 24/7 contact and schedule a property inspection with the Building & Licensing department or submit the annual self-inspection checklist. 3) Pay the annual fee and submit the application to receive the license, which must be displayed in the unit and renewed annually.

1) Complete the City Residential Rental License application and provide proof of ownership, owner ID, and evidence of tax payment. 2) Designate a local 24/7 contact and schedule a property inspection with the Building & Licensing department or submit the annual self-inspection checklist. 3) Pay the annual fee and submit the application to receive the license, which must be displayed in the unit and renewed annually.

Vrbo is permitted in Rehoboth Beach, DE under the same restrictions that apply to Airbnb — local rules govern the rental itself, not the specific platform. You must hold a valid permit before hosting on Vrbo. Last verified 2026-05-14.

Short-term rental hosts in Rehoboth Beach are typically responsible for lodging, occupancy, and applicable sales taxes — these usually apply even where hosting is allowed without a permit. Rates and remittance rules vary by jurisdiction (state, county, and city can each levy a share); confirm the current rates with the official source linked on this page. Platforms such as Airbnb and Vrbo collect some taxes automatically, but the host remains liable for any not collected on their behalf.

The most recent tracked change in Rehoboth Beach is "Rehoboth Beach Rental Dwelling Permit Program" (2022-09-01, status: passed). City requires annual rental dwelling permit for all STRs; safety inspection, certificate of occupancy compliance, and smoke/CO detector requirements mandatory. See the regulatory updates section on this page for the full history.

An annual City of Rehoboth Beach rental dwelling permit with safety inspection (smoke/CO detectors, fire extinguisher, certificate of occupancy compliance). Sussex County lodging tax registration (8%) is also required. Permit must be posted on the property.

No. Delaware has no statewide STR preemption law. Rehoboth Beach and neighboring communities (Dewey Beach, Bethany Beach, etc.) each set their own requirements independently.

Peak rental season is Memorial Day through Labor Day (late May to early September). Most vacation rental permitting and enforcement activity centers on the summer season; STR revenue is heavily concentrated in these three months.