Short-Term Rental (STR)
A furnished residential property rented to guests for short stays, often under 28 to 31 nights, typically through platforms like Airbnb or Vrbo. Local rules frequently define and regulate STRs by a night threshold.
A short-term rental is a furnished home or unit booked by the night rather than leased for a year. The night threshold matters because it is usually what triggers regulation: cross the line that a city sets, often 28, 30, or 31 nights, and your property may need a permit, owe a lodging tax, and follow zoning and safety rules that long-term rentals avoid.
These thresholds and the rules attached to them vary widely by city and county, and some areas ban STRs outright. Check the specific definition where the property sits before assuming any number applies to you.
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Related terms: Average Daily Rate (ADR) , Occupancy Rate , STR Permit
Last updated . Part of the FinExplained finance glossary .