Short-Term Rental Regulations
in Carbondale, IL

Airbnb listings are allowed in Carbondale, IL, but with restrictions. Short-term rentals require a Town-issued Short Term Rental License and are only permitted for property owners using the property as their primary residence (owner resides at least 183 days/year) or for properties located within the Historic Commercial Core (HCC) zoning district; non-owner-occupied properties outside the HCC are ineligible. Occupancy is limited to two persons per room plus two additional persons per property (children under five excluded from count). License numbers must appear on all advertisements; community housing units are ineligible; a designated local contact is required to be on-file and responsible for compliance. Monthly tax remittance required (Town STR tax of 6% plus existing 2% lodging tax). 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.

Short-term rentals require a Town-issued Short Term Rental License and are only permitted for property owners using the property as their primary residence (owner resides at least 183 days/year) or for properties located within the Historic Commercial Core (HCC) zoning district; non-owner-occupied properties outside the HCC are ineligible. Occupancy is limited to two persons per room plus two additional persons per property (children under five excluded from count). License numbers must appear on all advertisements; community housing units are ineligible; a designated local contact is required to be on-file and responsible for compliance. Monthly tax remittance required (Town STR tax of 6% plus existing 2% lodging tax).

Yes, a permit is required to operate a short-term rental in Carbondale. 1) Submit a Short Term Rental license application via the Town of Carbondale's online STR license/tax platform (new applications accepted anytime; renewals handled via the same portal). 2) Provide required documentation on application (proof of primary residence where applicable—owner must reside at least 183 days/year), designate a local contact person and provide required contact info, and include the applicant information required by the application form. 3) Remit applicable taxes monthly (6% STR tax in addition to 2% lodging tax); include assigned license number in all listings/advertisements.

1) Submit a Short Term Rental license application via the Town of Carbondale's online STR license/tax platform (new applications accepted anytime; renewals handled via the same portal). 2) Provide required documentation on application (proof of primary residence where applicable—owner must reside at least 183 days/year), designate a local contact person and provide required contact info, and include the applicant information required by the application form. 3) Remit applicable taxes monthly (6% STR tax in addition to 2% lodging tax); include assigned license number in all listings/advertisements.

Vrbo is permitted in Carbondale, IL 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 Carbondale 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.

We are not currently tracking any recent short-term rental ordinance changes for Carbondale. STR rules change frequently — verify the current requirements with the city or county before listing, using the official source linked on this page.