Can any State College property operate as a short-term rental?

No. The parcel must be inside State College Borough and satisfy the principal-residence, CRCA permit, parking, insurance, and annual licensing requirements. Nearby municipalities have different rules.

Does State College require the rental to be a principal residence?

Yes. The owner or at least one long-term tenant must use the dwelling as a principal residence for a minimum of eight months during the license year and provide the required evidence.

How many days can a State College short-term rental operate?

The Borough limits licensed short-term-rental activity to no more than 120 days during each annual license term.

What permits are required before applying for the STR license?

Obtain a Rental Housing Permit from Centre Region Code Administration, including the applicable inspection and code-compliance process, before submitting the Borough STR license application.

What documents accompany a State College STR application?

The application requires ownership evidence, principal-residence documents, a parking plan, at least $100,000 of rental-specific liability insurance, the CRCA permit, and a current lease when a long-term tenant establishes residency.

How much is the State College STR license fee?

The Borough application page listed a $450 fee when checked on September 28, 2026. Confirm the current fee before submitting because Council can revise the fee schedule.

What parking must a State College short-term rental provide?

Provide one off-street parking space for every bedroom offered for short-term rental. Each space must measure at least 8 feet by 15 feet and appear on the submitted parking plan.

What taxes apply to a State College short-term rental?

Qualifying stays may incur Pennsylvania's 6% hotel occupancy tax and Centre County's 5% hotel room tax. Confirm platform collection and the operator's registration and filing duties with both tax authorities.

Must the license number appear in Airbnb or Vrbo listings?

Yes. The Borough requires the short-term-rental license number in every print, digital, or internet advertisement and property listing.

What records must a State College STR operator keep?

Maintain at least 12 months of activity records showing nights rented, occupants, and cars for each stay, plus downloadable activity information from every listing platform.

State College, PA Airbnb Guide

Decision point

State College STR Investment Decision

Proceed only after confirming that the parcel is inside State College Borough and can satisfy the principal-residence, Rental Housing Permit, parking, and annual license rules.

Confirm the address is inside State College Borough because nearby municipalities use different rules.
Require the owner or a long-term tenant to use the dwelling as a principal residence for at least eight months of the license year.
Confirm the dwelling can receive a CRCA Rental Housing Permit before applying for the Borough license.
Model no more than 120 short-term-rental days during each annual license term.
After principal-residence eligibility, permit feasibility, and property costs are documented, Plan Your State College Property Strategy Call.

Eligibility

State College Rental Eligibility

The Borough permits licensed short-term rentals in all zones, but the ordinance ties eligibility to principal residence and other property-specific requirements.

The operator must be the owner; a lessee or sublessee cannot serve as the operator.
The property must be the principal residence of the owner or at least one long-term tenant for a minimum of eight months per year.
A long-term tenant used to meet residency must have a current lease and cannot be required to vacate for short-term-rental stays.
One-family dwellings with accessory apartments have special occupancy and zoning conditions.
Certain separately permitted uses, including hotels, tourist homes, and bed-and-breakfast establishments, are exempt from this STR license part.

Licensing

State College STR License Application

Obtain the CRCA Rental Housing Permit first, then submit the complete annual STR license application through the Borough Rentalscape portal.

Apply at least 30 days before starting short-term-rental activity.
Provide the deed and, for LLC ownership, membership information identifying the owner-operator.
Provide two principal-residence documents: one approved photo identification and one approved address document.
Submit the parking plan, at least $100,000 of rental-specific liability coverage, CRCA permit, and tenant lease when applicable.
Budget the current $450 application or renewal fee and confirm the fee before filing.

Operations

State College STR Operating Rules

Licensed operations must stay within the annual day and bedroom limits while maintaining records that support renewal and inspection.

Limit short-term-rental activity to 120 days during the annual license term.
Use no more than nine bedrooms for short-term rental at one time.
Maintain an activity log for at least the prior 12 months with nights rented, occupants, and cars for every stay.
Retain downloadable activity records from every platform and provide them when Borough representatives request them.
Display the STR license and CRCA Rental Housing Permit at the property.

Safety

State College Rental Safety Requirements

The separate CRCA Rental Housing Permit includes housing inspection and compliance with the Rental Housing and Building Safety Code.

Complete the CRCA permit and inspection process before submitting the Borough STR application.
Keep at least $100,000 in general liability coverage that expressly covers rental activity.
Provide guests a physical copy of Section 806 of the Rental Housing and Building Safety Code.
Do not allow sleeping in spaces classified as uninhabitable under the regional building safety and property maintenance code.
Confirm smoke alarms, carbon-monoxide protection, exits, occupancy, and other inspection items directly with CRCA.

Taxes

State College Lodging Taxes and Filings

Short stays may trigger Pennsylvania and Centre County lodging taxes even when a booking platform handles some collection.

Pennsylvania imposes a 6% hotel occupancy tax on qualifying lodging rentals of fewer than 30 days.
Centre County imposes a 5% hotel room tax on covered transient accommodations.
Register and file with the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue when direct bookings or a noncollecting platform make the operator responsible.
Register with the Centre County Treasurer and confirm county filing duties, including platform bookings.
Keep platform statements and direct-booking records to reconcile gross receipts, exemptions, tax collected, and filings.

Enforcement

State College STR Compliance and Appeals

Operating or advertising without a license can stop the rental and trigger fines, while nuisance points can suspend or block renewal.

Publish the Borough license number in every print, digital, and internet advertisement.
A first advertising violation may bring a warning and 14 days to apply; later violations may be fined.
Other ordinance violations may carry fines from $300 to $1,000, with each continuing day treated separately.
Ten or more Section 806 nuisance or criminal points in a rolling year can suspend the license.
File a suspension appeal in writing within 10 calendar days of receiving notice.

Underwriting

State College Property Underwriting

Use property-specific evidence instead of market-wide revenue, occupancy, or return assumptions.

Cap modeled STR availability at 120 days and stress-test fewer usable dates.
Verify that principal-residence evidence can be maintained for the entire annual license term.
Price the CRCA permit, inspection work, $450 Borough fee, insurance, parking, taxes, cleaning, utilities, and reserves.
Confirm one compliant off-street space at least 8 by 15 feet for every STR bedroom.
Underwrite direct and platform bookings separately because tax collection and records can differ.

Local contacts

State College Short-Term Rental Contacts

Route each question to the agency responsible for the decision before committing capital or opening reservations.

Borough STR licensing: Planning Department, shorttermrentals@statecollegepa.us, 814-234-7100.
Rental permit and inspection: Centre Region Code Administration.
County lodging tax: Centre County Treasurer, 814-355-6810.
State hotel occupancy tax: Pennsylvania Department of Revenue through myPATH.
Deed records: Centre County Register of Deeds.

Official sources

State College Official Sources

Official materials reviewed September 28, 2026. Requirements and fees can change, so confirm current rules with each agency.

State College, Pennsylvania Airbnb Rules & Investment Guide (2026)