Is a place that isn't listed legal?

Not necessarily. It means we have not published a sourced answer yet. Check the city's official short-term rental page and read your lease.

If the city allows it, can I do it?

Not on its own. You also need the landlord's written permission and must follow any building, HOA or condo rules.

How often are answers re-checked?

Each page shows when it was last verified. Pages past the review cycle are flagged until they are checked again.

What do the statuses mean?

Allowed means no dedicated permit. Permit required means a license or registration. Restricted means conditions such as a primary-residence rule or night cap. Banned means not permitted. The methodology page defines each one.

Rental Arbitrage Legality Checker

Check a state or city before you sign a lease. Every answer shows its sources and date.

Written by RentalArbitrage AdminUpdated: October 2026

Loading the tool…

Short-term rental rules are set mostly by cities and counties, and they change often. A deal that works on paper is worthless if the city bans the kind of rental you plan to run. This checker gives you the status, a plain-English summary and a link to the full page with its sources.

How to Use It

Choose a state, then a city if we have researched one.
Read the status and the summary.
Open the full page for requirements, restrictions, taxes and the official sources.

What the Four Statuses Mean

Allowed: short-term rentals are permitted without a dedicated permit or registration.
Permit required: permitted with a license, permit or registration.
Restricted: permitted only under conditions, such as a primary-residence rule, a cap on nights or zoning limits. Many restricted cities effectively rule out rental arbitrage, because the tenant does not live in the unit.
Banned: short-term rentals of this kind are not permitted.

Three Permissions, Not One

A city’s rules are only one of three permissions you need. The other two are the landlord’s written consent and the building or HOA rules. Any one of the three can stop a deal.

What “Not yet Researched” Means

We only publish a status when a primary source supports it: an ordinance, a statute or an official city page. If a place isn’t listed, that is not a green light.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a Place That Isn't Listed Legal?: Not necessarily. It means we have not published a sourced answer yet. Check the city's official short-term rental page and read your lease.
If the City Allows It, Can I Do It?: Not on its own. You also need the landlord's written permission and must follow any building, HOA or condo rules.
How Often Are Answers Re-Checked?: Each page shows when it was last verified. Pages past the review cycle are flagged until they are checked again.
What Do the Statuses Mean?: Allowed means no dedicated permit. Permit required means a license or registration. Restricted means conditions such as a primary-residence rule or night cap. Banned means not permitted. The methodology page defines each one.