Regulation

STR Regulations to Check Before You Buy

Published 2026-04-10 · BNB Accelerator Editorial Team

Is a permit required, and is it transferable?

Many cities and counties require a short-term rental permit or license tied to the property, the operator, or both. Confirm not just whether one exists today, but whether it transfers to a new owner or requires a fresh application and inspection.

A pending sale can also trigger a new-owner review under current rules even where the old rules were more permissive -- worth confirming with the local licensing office directly, not just the listing agent.

Are there caps, moratoriums, or owner-occupancy rules pending?

Some jurisdictions cap the total number of short-term rental permits issued, which can mean a permit that seems routine today is actually scarce and non-renewable once lost. Others require the owner to live on-site part of the year, which rules out a pure investment purchase entirely.

Checking current ordinances and any publicly noticed pending changes before you offer is one of the fastest ways to avoid buying into a market that's about to change the rules on you.

BNB Accelerator's acquisitions team, led by Nick Korom, screens over 1,000 short-term rental listings a week and hand-delivers the roughly 2% that clear underwriting. Book a free consultation to see what a done-for-you short-term rental acquisition looks like for your situation.