Short-Term Rental Rules Checker

Three layers decide whether a home in an association can operate as a short-term rental: state statute, the governing documents, and local ordinance. The layers get conflated constantly, and the most expensive confusion is the first one; several states limit what CITIES may do about short-term rentals while leaving associations entirely free to restrict them. This checker reports the state-statute layer for any state and the District of Columbia: whether statute limits association restrictions, whether a ban requires amending the declaration, how existing owners are treated when restrictions arrive, the vote threshold an amendment needs, and any statutory minimum lease terms. Every answer links to the official text. City and county ordinances sit outside this checker by design; a rental that clears the association may still need a local permit.

Association STR authority at a glance: all 51 jurisdictions

The table reports whether state statute limits association restrictions. The checker above adds ban mechanics, grandfathering, thresholds, and the exact statutory text.

Questions this checker answers

Can an HOA ban Airbnb?

In most states, yes, through the governing documents, and usually by amending the declaration. 20 jurisdictions impose statutory limits on association rental restrictions. The checker reports whether a limit exists and how a ban would have to happen.

My state passed a law protecting short-term rentals. Does it bind the HOA?

Check who the law binds. Several states restrict what cities and counties may do about short-term rentals without touching associations, and the difference decides the case. The checker quotes the operative text so the scope is visible.

What happens to owners already renting when a ban passes?

Some states grandfather existing owners or existing rental use by statute; elsewhere the amendment's own terms and general law decide. The checker reports the statutory rule and its trigger where one exists.

Methodology

Each state entry is built from the operative statutes. Entries quote the statutory text and link to the official legislature or code site. A second, independent review pass checks every entry against the official text before publication, and each entry displays its verification date. The checker runs entirely in the browser; it sets no cookies, saves no entries, and sends nothing to any server.

This checker reports the state-statute layer only. The governing documents of a specific community and city or county ordinances add their own rules, and either can be stricter than state law. It is not legal advice. A buyer counting on rental income, or a board weighing a restriction, should confirm all three layers or speak with a licensed attorney in that state.