How LawfulStay Tracks STR Regulations

What We Track — and What We Don’t

LawfulStay tracks government-imposed regulations on short-term rentals (STRs) — defined as rentals of residential property for fewer than 30 nights. We cover the rules that apply to hosts operating on platforms like Airbnb, Vrbo, and Booking.com.

Source Hierarchy

We apply a strict source priority order. Higher-ranked sources always override lower-ranked ones. A regulation is only published when traceable to an official or credible government-adjacent source.

1. 1
   Official government websites & municipal codes

   City council pages, municipal code databases (e.g. Municode), planning department portals, official permit application pages. Always the primary source.
2. 2
   Government press releases & official announcements

   Mayor's office announcements, planning department bulletins, official city communications about new or changed STR policies.
3. 3
   Established local news outlets

   Regional newspapers and broadcast outlets reporting on city council votes, ordinance passage, or enforcement changes — used to identify leads, always verified against primary sources.
4. 4
   Industry research & STR policy trackers

   Recognized STR policy organizations and research groups used as supplementary context — never as the sole source for a regulation claim.

How the Update Pipeline Works

LawfulStay runs two automated research cycles per day — at 07:00 MDT and 13:00 MDT. Each cycle follows this sequence:

How We Classify Regulatory Status

Every jurisdiction receives one of five status classifications, based on the current legal environment for whole-home short-term rentals:

Active — STRs are permitted with registration or licensing. Specific rules apply but operation is legal with compliance.

Restricted — STRs are allowed but subject to meaningful limitations: primary residence rules, hard night caps, narrow zoning, or density quotas that substantially limit most operators.

Pending — A regulation is proposed, under council review, or awaiting final vote. The current rules may differ from what's under consideration.

Banned — STRs are prohibited in most or all residential zones. Operation without an exemption is illegal and subject to penalties.

Accuracy Standards & Error Correction

STR regulations change frequently — sometimes with little notice. We cannot guarantee that every record is current at the exact moment you read it, but we do guarantee a documented process for maintaining accuracy:

Each jurisdiction page shows a last verified date. If that date is more than 60 days old, treat the data as a starting point and verify with the official source linked on the page.

How to report errors: Every jurisdiction page includes a correction form. Submissions are reviewed within 24 hours and cross-checked against the official government source before any change is made. We do not apply corrections based solely on user reports — all changes must be traceable to a primary source.

Important Limitations

State pre-emption is complex. In some US states, state law pre-empts local STR ordinances — meaning local rules may be unenforceable. We document local rules as written but do not adjudicate pre-emption disputes. Consult an attorney if pre-emption is relevant to your situation.

Enforcement ≠ written rules. Some jurisdictions have regulations on the books that are rarely enforced; others enforce rules more aggressively than written law suggests. We track written law only.

HOAs and leases are not covered. Even where STRs are legally permitted by government rules, HOA CC&Rs or lease clauses may prohibit them. These private agreements are entirely outside our scope.

Common Questions About Our Data