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Data Report
2026 rankings based on real regulation data across 593 US markets. Updated daily.
593
Markets Analyzed
96%
Require Licensing
162
High Enforcement
10.1%
Avg Lodging Tax
markets require an STR license or permit to operate legally. Non-compliance can result in fines, shutdowns, or criminal penalties.
markets have permit caps - once the limit is reached, new operators cannot get licensed regardless of compliance.
markets require primary residence - meaning investment properties cannot operate as short-term rentals.
markets have effectively prohibited short-term rentals entirely through moratoriums or outright bans.
Markets with the lowest risk scores - highest regulation, enforcement, and barriers to entry.
| # | Market | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York, NY | 5 |
| 2 | Cannon Beach, OR | 5 |
Markets with the highest risk scores - minimal regulation and low barriers to entry.
| # | Market | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maggie Valley, NC | 98 |
| 2 | Port St. Lucie, FL | 98 |
| 3 | McAllen, TX | 98 |
Where non-compliance hits your wallet the hardest.
Combined state and local lodging tax rates.
Every market is scored 0 to 100 based on real regulation data. A score of 100 means fully permissive with no STR-specific rules. A score near 0 means short-term rentals are effectively prohibited.
More cities are regulating short-term rentals each year. Markets that were permissive two years ago may now require licensing, inspections, and tax registration. These rankings update daily as we track regulatory changes across all 593 markets.
Search 593+ markets for detailed regulation data, tax rates, and compliance requirements.
| 3 | Folly Beach, SC | 5 |
| 4 | Irvine, CA | 5 |
| 5 | Louisville, CO | 5 |
| 6 | Oakland, CA | 10 |
| 7 | San Francisco, CA | 10 |
| 8 | Los Angeles, CA | 11 |
| 9 | Honolulu, HI | 11 |
| 10 | Philadelphia, PA | 12 |
| 11 | Sacramento, CA | 12 |
| 12 | Aspen, CO | 13 |
| 13 | Savannah, GA | 13 |
| 14 | Napa, CA | 13 |
| 15 | Seaside, FL | 14 |
| 16 | New Orleans, LA | 17 |
| 17 | Burlington, VT | 18 |
| 18 | Rancho Mirage, CA | 18 |
| 19 | Lake Placid, NY | 19 |
| 20 | Walla Walla, WA | 19 |
| 21 | Atlanta, GA | 21 |
| 22 | Leavenworth, WA | 21 |
| 23 | Nashville, TN | 21 |
| 24 | Kihei, HI | 21 |
| 25 | Calistoga, CA | 21 |
| 4 | St. Simons Island, GA | 98 |
| 5 | Michigan City, IN | 98 |
| 6 | Bismarck, ND | 98 |
| 7 | Outer Banks, NC | 98 |
| 8 | Schenevus, NY | 97 |
| 9 | Indianapolis, IN | 97 |
| 10 | Lewis Smith Lake, AL | 96 |
| 11 | Lake Martin, AL | 96 |
| 12 | Lake Cumberland, KY | 96 |
| 13 | York Beach, ME | 96 |
| 14 | Sandpoint, ID | 96 |
| 15 | Harpers Ferry, WV | 96 |
| 16 | Hendersonville, NC | 95 |
| 17 | Acadia, ME | 95 |
| 18 | Lake of the Ozarks, MO | 95 |
| 19 | Orange, VA | 94 |
| 20 | Cortland, NY | 94 |
| 21 | Murfreesboro, TN | 94 |
| 22 | Round Rock, TX | 94 |
| 23 | Prescott Valley, AZ | 94 |
| 24 | Flathead Lake, MT | 94 |
| 25 | Minocqua, WI | 94 |
Vancouver, BC
high enforcement
$50,000
Newport, RI
Rhode Island
21%
New York, NY currently has the strictest STR regulations with a risk score of 5 out of 100. A license is required. Enforcement is high. Fines can reach $5,000.
Maggie Valley, NC is the most welcoming with a risk score of 98 out of 100. No STR license is required.
Rankings pull from our live database of 593 markets. As we verify new regulations or cities update their rules, the rankings reflect those changes automatically.
The risk score ranges from 0 to 100. A higher score means fewer regulations and lower barriers to operating an STR. A lower score means stricter rules, higher fines, and more compliance requirements. Scores are calculated from real government data, not estimates.
Rankings are based on data in our database and update as regulations change. This is not legal advice. Always verify current requirements with your local jurisdiction.