When do you need a Philadelphia Rental License?
When in doubt, most cases call for a rental license to lease out a residential property within Philadelphia. A rental license will always be required when leasing the following property types:
Residential dwellings.
Rooming or boarding houses.
Assisted living facilities.
Dormitories.
Hotels, motels, hostels, bed-and-breakfasts, and other short-term rentals of properties without a primary resident (i.e. visitor accommodations).
When is a rental license not required? Here are residential housing examples when a rental license is not required:
A unit to a family member, without collecting rent.
Your primary residence or a room in it for 30 days or less (e.g. using a short-term rental platform like AirBnB)
Of course, the city does not let you off the hook for these types of properties. Instead, a property owner must do the following:
For a unit to a family member without collecting rent - you will need to complete a notarized affidavit of non-rental.
For a primary residence or room rented for 30 days or less - apply for a Limited Lodging Operator License.
For more information on Rental Licenses and Certificates of Rental Suitability please contact us at info@phillyrentallicense.com or 215-740-6038
