Short-Term Rental Regulations
in Erie, PA

Airbnb listings are allowed in Erie, PA, but with restrictions. STRs are permitted in specific residential, commercial, and waterfront districts (R-1, R-1A, R-2, R-3, RLB, C-1, C-2, C-3, C-4, W-C, W-C2, W-C3, W-R). Requirements include a 24-hour local contact, a minimum of one off-street parking space per rentable unit, and a posted notice within the unit detailing maximum occupancy and vehicle limits. 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.

STRs are permitted in specific residential, commercial, and waterfront districts (R-1, R-1A, R-2, R-3, RLB, C-1, C-2, C-3, C-4, W-C, W-C2, W-C3, W-R). Requirements include a 24-hour local contact, a minimum of one off-street parking space per rentable unit, and a posted notice within the unit detailing maximum occupancy and vehicle limits.

Yes, a permit is required to operate a short-term rental in Erie. 1. Attend a pre-application meeting with the Zoning Office and submit an STR application to obtain a Zoning Certificate. 2. Submit the Zoning Certificate to the Licensing Office and schedule a property inspection with the City Building Inspector. 3. Upon successful inspection and issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy, the Licensing Office issues the STR License.

1. Attend a pre-application meeting with the Zoning Office and submit an STR application to obtain a Zoning Certificate. 2. Submit the Zoning Certificate to the Licensing Office and schedule a property inspection with the City Building Inspector. 3. Upon successful inspection and issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy, the Licensing Office issues the STR License.

Vrbo is permitted in Erie, PA 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 Erie 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 Erie. STR rules change frequently — verify the current requirements with the city or county before listing, using the official source linked on this page.