Short-Term Rental Regulations
in District of Columbia County, DC

Airbnb listings are allowed in District of Columbia County, DC, but with restrictions. Short-term rentals are permitted only with a valid basic business license endorsement ("Short-Term Rental" or "Short-Term Rental: Vacation Rental"). Host must be a natural person and the property must be the host’s primary residence (homestead-eligible); vacation rentals (host not present) are limited to 90 nights per calendar year unless an exemption is granted. Additional constraints: minimum liability insurance requirement (statute: at least $500,000; DLCP guidance referenced $250,000), maximum occupancy of 8 transient guests (or 2 guests per bedroom, whichever is greater), requirement to provide a 24-hour emergency contact, retain booking records for 2 years, and listing must include the license endorsement number. 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 are permitted only with a valid basic business license endorsement ("Short-Term Rental" or "Short-Term Rental: Vacation Rental"). Host must be a natural person and the property must be the host’s primary residence (homestead-eligible); vacation rentals (host not present) are limited to 90 nights per calendar year unless an exemption is granted. Additional constraints: minimum liability insurance requirement (statute: at least $500,000; DLCP guidance referenced $250,000), maximum occupancy of 8 transient guests (or 2 guests per bedroom, whichever is greater), requirement to provide a 24-hour emergency contact, retain booking records for 2 years, and listing must include the license endorsement number.

Yes, a permit is required to operate a short-term rental in District of Columbia County. 1) Apply online through DLCP's Short-Term Rental Licensing portal (ShortTermRentals.dc.gov) and select the appropriate endorsement (Short-Term Rental or Short-Term Rental: Vacation Rental). 2) Upload required documentation: evidence of primary residence/homestead eligibility, proof of liability insurance, a Certificate of Clean Hands from the Office of Tax and Revenue, and proof of HOA/condo permission if applicable. 3) Self-certify compliance with housing codes, pay the license fee, and post the license conspicuously on the property.

1) Apply online through DLCP's Short-Term Rental Licensing portal (ShortTermRentals.dc.gov) and select the appropriate endorsement (Short-Term Rental or Short-Term Rental: Vacation Rental). 2) Upload required documentation: evidence of primary residence/homestead eligibility, proof of liability insurance, a Certificate of Clean Hands from the Office of Tax and Revenue, and proof of HOA/condo permission if applicable. 3) Self-certify compliance with housing codes, pay the license fee, and post the license conspicuously on the property.

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