Short-Term Rental Laws in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Pittsburgh's 2023 STR ordinance (effective January 2024) requires all STR operators to obtain a Pittsburgh STR Registration plus a separate Allegheny County Hotel/Motel Tax registration. The ordinance distinguishes between Owner-Occupied (host's primary residence; broadly permitted) and Non-Owner-Occupied STRs (subject to zoning compliance; permitted in commercial/mixed-use zones plus residential zones with conditional use approval). Some neighborhoods (notably parts of Lawrenceville, the South Side, and East Liberty) saw saturation-driven density caps proposed in 2024.

Pittsburgh's zoning code uses neighborhood-based districts (R1-A, R1-D, R2, R3, RM, LNC, NDO, GT, etc.). Owner-Occupied STR allowed in most residential zones subject to registration. Non-Owner-Occupied STR broadly permitted in Local Neighborhood Commercial (LNC), Neighborhood Office (NO), Urban Neighborhood Commercial (UNC), and Mixed-Use districts; conditional use approval required in standard residential zones. Allegheny County (outside city limits — including Mt. Lebanon, Bethel Park, Cranberry, etc.) operates parallel registration but generally more permissive municipal frameworks.

Operators must hold a short-term rental permit before listing. See the official permit portal.

Pittsburgh Department of Finance administers STR Registration with annual renewal. Application requires proof of insurance, designated 24/7 local responsible-party contact within 25 miles, life-safety self-certification, parking plan, and primary-residence verification for owner-occupied applicants. Allegheny County Hotel Tax (7%) collected by County Treasurer's office via monthly remittance. Operating without registration: $500+ per violation + back-tax assessment. Code Enforcement cross-references Airbnb/Vrbo listings against the registry annually.

Combined short-term lodging tax in Pittsburgh is approximately 14.000% of gross nightly revenue (state sales + state TRT + local TRT + applicable resort/city options).

PA State sales 6% + Allegheny County Hotel Tax 7% + Pittsburgh hotel/motel tax 1% — combined ~14.0% on transient lodging

Verify the current combined rate via the Utah State Tax Commission before remitting — rates drift quarterly.