STR Municipal Scorecard: Rules on Short-term Rentals in Boroughs and Townships in Poconos

Zoning, Rules and Regulations regarding Short-term Rentals, VRBO and AirBnB are changing in the Poconos, here is a scorecard of municipalities and what they say about running a short-term rental from your vacation home or income property.

Last Updated: September, 2024

Vacation rentals can also be a nuisance as people on vacation can be boisterous and celebratory, awake at odd hours. Some municipalities (especially in the Poconos) have a long and rich tradition of supporting visitors and the associated hospitality industry, and for other municipalities, this is something new. With the rise of VRBO/Expedia and AirBnB, more people have been drawn to the potential income that vacation rentals bring and that has prompted a tighter regulatory environment.

Municipalities governments in Pennsylvania come in the form of cities, townships and boroughs. Each municipality has their own zoning and land use regulations and while some are fairly standard, the use of a residential home for short-term rentals is not. A 2019 court case decided by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court called Slice of Life, et al v. Hamilton Twp ZHB set forth the current surge in municipal regulation of short-term rentals.

Below is a list of municipalities in the Pocono Mountains and neighboring areas with an estimate as to their current position regarding the use of vacation rentals from individual homes. This is done by my ongoing survey of the market, discussions with municipal officials and website review, BUT it is by no ways official. For detailed information, please contact the municipality itself to explore both zoning requirements and any applicable Short-term Rental Ordinances.

In addition to the Municipal rules and regulations, one should check with the various planned communities with their POA/HOA charters. See the list of Short-term Rental Friendly Pocono Communities for some insight. Two recent Commonwealth Court decisions now put some limits to what HOAs can do.

Below you will find a red, yellow or green light as to my opinion as to the municipality’s short-term rental friendliness.

• Green = Short-term rental of single family homes is approved with clear rules and regulations and allowed throughout the municipality.  Restrictions likely apply and you should be well aware of the rules and regulations.
• Yellow = Short-term rental of single family homes has significant restrictions, is not yet regulated, or may be allowed informally in some zoning areas, with various restrictive clauses.  It is quite possible that regulations are coming soon.
• Red = Short-term rentals are not permitted in the municipality, code enforcement is active.

ALBRIGHTSVILLE, PA 18210 is a post office designation and census-designated place, not a municipality. Municipalities served by the Albrightsville Post Office and zip code = 18210 include: Penn Forest Township, Kidder Township, Tunkhannock Township

BANKS TOWNSHIP (Treskow, Carbon County, PA 18254)
Telephone #: (570) 454-8291
Short term rentals are permitted use within any single family dwelling in all zoning districts in Banks Township.

BARRETT TOWNSHIP (Monroe County, including Cresco, Mountainhome, Canadensis, Skytop, Buck Hill Falls)
Short-term rentals in Barrett Township require a permit.

BARTONSVILLE, PA 18321 is a post office designation, not a municipality.  Municipalities served by the Bartonsville Post Office Zip Code = 18321 include parts of Pocono Township, Hamilton Township, Jackson Township and Stroud Township.

BEAVER MEADOWS BOROUGH (Beaver Meadows, PA 18216)
Telephone #: (570) 455-7841
No rules or regulations affecting Short-Term Rentals in Beaver Meadows Borough have been published.

BLAKESLEE, PA 18610 is a post office designation, not a municipality.  Much of Tobyhanna Township is served by the Blakeslee Post Office Zip Code = 18610.

BOWMANSTOWN BOROUGH (Bowmanstown, PA 18030)
Telephone #: (610) 852-2455
A permit is required. Rental length is not a factor for owners as long as it is rented to a single family. A short-term rental to a non-family group is treated as a hotel.

BRODHEADSVILLE, PA 18322 is a post office designation and a census-designated place, not a municipality.  Municipalities served by the Brodheadsville Post Office Zip Code = 18322 include, Polk Township and Chestnuthill Township.

BUCK TOWNSHIP (Luzerne County)  
Buck Township is just north of the Jack Frost Ski Resort.  Much of the township consists of state gamelands.  No rules or regulations affecting Short-Term Rentals in Buck Township have been published.

BUSHKILL TOWNSHIP (Northampton County – NOT Bushkill, PA 18324)
phone: 610-759-1250
There is no Short-Term Rental ordinance in Bushkill Township, Northampton County and the township interprets this as STR is not allowed. One could apply for a variance to the local zoning board for STR as an exception, but nobody has to date.

BUSHKILL PA 18324 Bushkill (home of Bushkill Falls) with zip code 18324 is a post office designation, not a municipality.  The Buskill post office Zip Code = 18324 serves Lehman Township in Pike County.  Lehman Township has ceased issuing new STR licenses, but old licenses can be transferred with an agreement of sale.

For further reference, please check our STR-Friendly Scorecard for Pocono area Planned Communities (POA/HOA).

CANADENSIS PA 18325 Canadensis is a post office designation, not a municipality.  The Canadensis Post Office Zip Code = 18325 serves mostly Barrett Township including Skytop Lodge in Monroe County. 

CHESTNUTHILL TOWNSHIP(Monroe County)
Short-term rentals are only allowed in properties located in a general commercial zoning area.  Permits are required and there are restrictions as outlined in the Short-term Rental Ordinance.

CLIFTON TOWNSHIP (Lackawana County)
For homes outside of the Big Bass Lake Community, Clifton Township requires a STR License as detailed in their STR Ordinance. Home in Clifton Township that are in Big Bass Lake are covered by Big Bass Lake regulations, exempted from the township ordinance. The occupancy limit in Big Bass Lake is 3 people per bedroom. Contact both to confirm the current status.

COOLBAUGH TOWNSHIP (Monroe County)
Coolbaugh Township is a popular STR location as the township allows for Short-term rentals in residential zoning areas with necessary permits and inspections.   There are more than 800 Short-term Rental Licenses issued in the township.  STR is not allowed in Commercial or Industrial zoned areas.  Arrowhead Lake, Pocono Lake and other communities indicate that the practice is allowed, see Coolbaugh Township’s Short-term Rental Rules for more details. 

COVINGTON TOWNSHIP (Lackawanna County)
 Covington Township in Lackawanna Township has a short term rental ordinance and process managed by a third-party. A permit is required and certain restrictions are defined.  You can read the Short-Term Rental Packet for more details.

CRESCO, PA  18326
Cresco is a post office designation Zip Code = 18326 mostly in Barrett Township, Monroe County  Short-term rentals in Barrett Township require a permit.

DELAWARE TOWNSHIP (Dingman’s Ferry, Pike County)
Delaware Township in Pike County has just passed a STR ordinance which allows STR ONLY in Rural Residential Zoning areas.  Contact the township for more details on possible licensing requirements.  

DELAWARE WATER GAP BOROUGH (Monroe County)
The borough of Delaware Water Gap adopted a Short-term Rental Ordinance in 2022. Operators much obtain a license and there are occupancy restrictions reports a local news coverage of the supervisors meeting.

DINGMAN TOWNSHIP (Milford, Pike County, PA)
Dingman Township regulates short-term rentals.  The use requires a permit and may only be done in certain zoning districts.  Short-term rentals are NOT permitted in Gold Key, Sunrise, Conashaugh, Lake Adventure, Woodlands, Water Forest and other larger subdivisions.

DREHER TOWNSHIP (Wayne County)
Dreher Township is a rural municipality in southeast Wayne County with a population of about 1,500. A license is required to operate a Short-Term Rentals in Dreher Township.

EAST PENN TOWNSHIP (Carbon County)
Zoning Office: 570-386-5735
No rules or regulations affecting Short-Term Rentals in East Penn Township have been published.

EAST SIDE BOROUGH (White Haven, Pa 18661)
A zoning ordinance was enacted that prohibits Short-Term Rentals in East Side Borough, Carbon County, population = 294 people. The lone exception is a parcel of land adjacent to the now shuttered Mountain Laurel Golf Club

EAST STROUDSBURG BOROUGH (Monroe County)  Phone: (570) 421-8300
  The Borough of East Stroudsburg enacted a short term rental ordinance in 2021.  The ordinance requires licensing and a list of requirements including the use of a private trash hauler.  Zoning regulations limit the licenses to Commercial and Industrial areas, properties in residential areas will need a variance.  Details can be found in the East Stroudsburg STR Ordinance.

EAST STROUDSBURG ZIP CODES also cover a number of neighbor townships:
18301 = Borough East Stroudburg, Stroud Township
18302 = Middle Smithfield Township, Price Township, Smithfield Township

EFFORT, PA  18330 Effort is a post office designation and a census-designated place, not a municipality.  Municipalities served by the Effort Post Office Zip Code = 18330 include parts of Chestnuthill and Tunkhannock Townships in Monroe County. 

ELDRED TOWNSHIP (Kunkletown, Saylorsburg, Monroe County)
Short-term rentals are regulated in Eldred Township.  A 2020 short-term rental ordinance specifies that vacation rentals cannot be located in the residential district or the industrial zoning district. Short-term rentals can be located in the following zoning districts:  rural resource, agricultural/residential or a commercial.  A Conditional Use Exception is required and requires a review by both the Planning Commission and the Board of Supervisors and are approved or denied on a case-by-case basis.  Eldred Township’s Short-term rental rules were approved in 2020.

FOSTER TOWNSHIP (White Haven and Freeland, Luzerne County, PA)
  Foster Township enacted an ordinance in 2016 that prohibits STR in the R-1 and R-1A Zoning District  in 2019 they added a vacation rental ordinance and further defined occupancy and parking restrictions in 2022.    For properties that were licensed and are now in areas where STR is not permitted, there is an opportunity for new homeowners to continue to operate under “grandfathering.” See Foster Township Ordinances for more clarification, or call the township’s zoning officer to ask about a specific property

FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP (Lehighton, PA 18235)
Telephone #: (610) 377-1773
At the present time Franklin Township in Carbon County only permits short-term rentals in the Commercial District, mostly homes along Route 209.

GOULDSBORO, PA 18424 Gouldsboro is a post office designation and a census-designated place, not a municipality.  Municipalities served by the Gouldsboro Post Office Zip Code = 18424 include parts of Coolbaugh Townships in Monroe County, Lehigh Township in Wayne County and parts of Clifton, Thornhurst, and Covington Townships in Lackawanna County.

GREENE TOWNSHIP (including Greentown and Promised Land State Park, Pike County)
Rural Greene Township has no Zoning Ordinance.  A new STR ordinance was adopted in late 2022 which will sets rules and regulations – see the Greene Township website for Greene Township’s Short-term Rental regulations. and Lake Township, Pike County STR Permit Forms

HAMILTON TOWNSHIP(Monroe County, including Snydersville, Sciota, Saylorsburg, Cherry Valley)
Short-term rentals are not allowed in Hamilton Township. Any property in a designated “A” zoning area is strictly prohibited from rentals. Use of C-1 zoning (commercial) property for short-term rentals should apply for an approved use as a hotel/motel which requires a variance granted by the zoning board.

HENRYVILLE, PA 18332 is a post office designation, not a municipality. Municipalities served by the Henryville Post Office Zip Code = 18332 include: Paradise Township and Pocono Township

JACKSON TOWNSHIP (Monroe County)
In January 2023, Jackson Township updated its short-term rental rules and excluded the Residential and Industrial zoning areas from being eligible for new STR licenses. Short-term rentals are allowed in the Recreation/Commercial District, Commercial District Conservation District and Village Districts of Jackson Township. No new STR licenses are being issued in residential districts, those with existing STR licenses AND a Certificate of Non-Conformance will be “grandfathered in.” Details on Jackson Township’s new STR rules are readily available from the township.

JEFFERSON TOWNSHIP(Lake Ariel, Mt. Cobb, PA, 18436 Lackawanna County)
Jefferson Township lies just east of the Scranton metro area along I-84 and lies in the North Pocono School District. The recent Jefferson Township STR Ordinance requires a License and STR is allowed in the A-1, S-1, and C-1 Zoning Districts, NOT in residential districts. This has withstood court challenges.

JIM THORPE BOROUGH (Jim Thorpe, PA 18229)
Telephone #: (570) 325-3025
 The borough of Jim Thorpe’s Short-term Rental ordinance was adopted in 2021.  STR properties have certain requirements, require a permit and rules will be enforced by borough Code Enforcement.   The local newspaper reports of an amendment where existing rentals will be “grandfathered in” and new rentals will be restricted to the C1, C2, C3, R4 and special zoning districts. Owners hoping to open a short-term rental outside of those zones would need to receive a variance.

KIDDER TOWNSHIP (Lake Harmony, PA 18624)
Telephone #: (570) 722-0107
Home to the Big Two, Jack Frost and Big Boulder Ski Resorts.  Short-term rentals are allowed in Kidder Township, a permit is needed.  An annual inspection is also required.  Revisions to Kidder Township’s STR Ordinance have been adopted making it much more expensive for homeowners. Occupancy limits are for any guest, regardless of age. Kidder Township has a police department and code enforcement officer as a large percentage of homes here are vacation homes and rentals.

LACKAWAXEN TOWNSHIP (Hawley, Pike Township, PA)
In April 2021, Lackawaxen Township adopted a Short-term Rental Ordinance that provides licenses for properties that includes guidelines on occupancy, parking and the presence of a local manager/contact.

LAKE TOWNSHIP (Lake Ariel, Wayne County)
Lake Township in Wayne County includes much of the popular community called the Hideout and in September 2022 adopted the Lake Township STR Ordinance which requires a township permit, a local contact person, occupancy limits and restrictions similar throughout the Poconos. Lake Township, Wayne County STR Permit Forms

LANSFORD BOROUGH (Lansford, PA 18232)
Telephone #: (570) 645-3900
Short-term rentals are allowed in Lansford.  Owners are required to get a Residential Rental License (RRL) and submit to the borough office.  The annual cost of an RRL is $100.00 (billed to the owner every March and due by April 1^st each year) and requires an inspection by the borough’s Zoning Officer.   Inspections occur every 2 years.

LAUSANNE TOWNSHIP (Weatherly, PA 18255)
Telephone #: (570) 427-4029
No rules or regulations affecting Short-Term Rentals in Lausanne Township have been published.  

LEHIGH TOWNSHIP (Northampton County)
In 2020, Lehigh Township amended its zoning regulations and now allows for Short-Term Rentals in the Neighborhood Commercial (NC) Zoning District and in the Resort Commercial (RC) Zoning District by special exception.  For details, look at Ordinance 2020-3, the Short-Term Rental regulations for Lehigh Township, Northampton County.  

LEHIGH TOWNSHIP (Carbon County, Weatherly, PA 18255)      
Telephone #: (570) 427-4950
Lehigh Township has an Ordinance that provides a special exception for Bed & Breakfast (3 Units) or a Boarding House (Limit of 4 Persons) in the R-2 Zoning District. For Short-term rentals from a home, there is no ordinance therefore a variance would be needed in all zoning districts. No variances for short-term rental use of a single family home have been issued in Lehigh Township.

LEHIGH TOWNSHIP (Wayne County, Gouldsboro, PA 18424)      
Telephone #: (570) 842-6262
Lehigh Township in Wayne County started regulating STR in May of 2022. See STR Regulations for Lehigh Township, Wayne County in this small township.  

LEHIGHTON BOROUGH (Lehighton, PA 18235)
Telephone #: (610) 377-4002
At present, there is no zoning or licensing restrictions to short term rentals in Lehighton borough. There is an active short-term rental market in Lehighton

LEHMAN TOWNSHIP (Bushkill, Pike County)
Zoning regulations have become more restrictive to Short-term rentals in Lehman Township in Pike County, there have been several amendments to the Lehman Township STR Ordinance  and NO NEW LICENSES are being issued.  Properties with existing licenses can continue to operate STR under new owners if the previous owners provide a “Certificate of Non-Conformity” issued from the township (before closing.)  The new owner can then apply to have that license reissued under the new owner’s name.  No new STR licenses are being issued in Lehman Township. 

LONG POND, PA 18334 is a post office designation, not a municipality. Municipalities served by the Long Pond Post Office Zip Code = 18334 include: Tobyhanna Township, Tunkhannock Township

LOWER MOUNT BETHEL TOWNSHIP (Martins Creek, Northampton County, PA>
phone#610-252-5074
No information on rules or regulations for Short-term Rentals in Lower Mount Bethel Township, Northampton County has been published.

LOWER TOWAMENSING TOWNSHIP (Palmerton, PA 18071)
Telephone #: (610) 826-2522
 Lower Towamensing has adopted a Short Term Rental Ordinance that allows short-term rentals in properties in the R-1 and V-C Zoning Districts.  An annual license costing over $1,000 is required as is an annual inspection.  Details on Lower Towamensing’s Short Term Rental Regulations.

MAHONING TOWNSHIP (Lehighton, PA 18235)
Telephone #: (570) 386-4002
Short-Term Rentals in single-family residences in Mahoning Township are not allowed at this time.  If an owner wanted to operate a business from their home, they would need a variance.  Due to the possibility of multi-families in a short-term rental, the property would have to be regulated as a boarding house.  According to the local newspaper, Mahoning Towship is considering a Short-Term Rental ordinance.   Latest update is that the issue will be raised in 2022 once a new board of supervisors is seated.

MARSHALLS CREEK, PA  18335 Marshalls Creek is a post office designation, not a municipality.  Much of Smithfield Township in Monroe County is served by the Marshalls Creek Post Office, Zip Code = 18335.

MIDDLE SMITHFIELD TOWNSHIP (Monroe County)
Short-term rentals in Middle Smithfield Township require a permit and have occupancy restrictions including a maximum occupancy limit of 14. STR is popular in the township due to the proximity to Shawnee Ski Resort, the Delaware Water Gap and Bushkill Falls. There are many planned communities that limit STR, see a list of Middle Smithfield Homeowner Associations

MOORE TOWNSHIP (Northampton County)  Phone# 610-759-9449
No information on rules or regulations for Short-term Rentals in Moore Township, Northampton County is published.  There have been discussions about zoning changes to allow STR in village center district and industrial district as permitted uses, ordinance to then follow.

MOUNT POCONO BOROUGH (Monroe County)
Short-term rentals are only allowed in R-3, C-1 and C-2 zoning districts. The ordinance was updated in October 2023 to remove new licenses in R-2.

MOUNTAINHOME, PA  18342 is a census-designated place in Barrett Township.  

NESQUEHONING BOROUGH (Nesquehoning, PA 18240)
Telephone #: (570) 669-9588
A short-term rental ordinance was approved in April 2023 in Nesquehoning, a town that is a short drive to the Jim Thorpe, a popular tourist destination.

NORTH WHITEHALL TOWNSHIP (Lehigh County)
Short-term rentals are not allowed in SR Zoning areas in North Whitehall Township. Short-term rentals of shorter than 14 days could possibly operate in CR Zoning with a special exception. An ordinance exists for inns, operating in buildings built before 1940, otherwise a variance for zoning will be needed.

PACKER TOWNSHIP (Weatherly, PA 18255)
Telephone #: (570) 427-8969
A Public Hearing on the issue of zoning regulations for Short-Term Rentals in Packer Township was held and a wide ranging update to the Packer Township Zoning Ordinance meaning that regulations may be forthcoming.

PALMERTON BOROUGH (Palmerton, PA 18071)
Telephone #: (610) 826-2505
Short-term rentals in Palmerton are not included in the existing zoning regulations.  Legal operation of a STR would require a special use exception from the Borough for a variance from the existing property zoning use.

PALMYRA TOWNSHIP (Pike County, borders Lake Wallenpaupack)
Short-term rentals in Palmyra Township require a permit, inspections and a local contact person.  The majority of Palmyra Township’s northwestern border is Lake Wallenpaupack.

PALMYRA TOWNSHIP (Wayne County)
  Just to the west of Palmyra Township in Pike County is Palmyra Township in Wayne County, a separate municipality.  No ordinances have been passed regarding Short-term Rental in Palmyra Township Wayne County.

PARADISE TOWNSHIP (Monroe County, including Henryville, Mt. Airy Resort & Casino)
 Short-term rentals in Paradise Township require a permit.  An inspection is required, occupancy limited to 2 persons per bedroom and sufficient parking off-street must be provided.  In early 2022 the township adopted a zoning district requirements, which will allow STR only in the Business Districts (B-1 and B-2) also known as Resort Development Districts, No STR in residential districts in Paradise Township. 

PARRYVILLE BOROUGH (Parryville, PA 18244)
Telephone #: (610) 852-380
No rules or regulations affecting Short-Term Rentals in Parryville Borough have been published.

PENN FOREST TOWNSHIP (Jim Thorpe, PA 18229)
Telephone #: (570) 325-2768
 Penn Forest a Short Term Rental ordinance applicable to all zoning districts that requires a license ($250) per year and a one time zoning variance application. See Penn Forest Township STR information. These are mostly in vacation communities like Towamensing Trails, Mt. Pocahontas, Indian Mountain Lake, and Bear Creek Lakes. These communities and their HOA’s may have additional STR registration requirements and regulations.  A STR operator has published a video walking through the Steps to Apply for a STR License in Penn Forest Township.

PENN LAKE PARK BOROUGH (Luzerne County)
Telephone #:570 443-8017
The Penn Lake Park short-term rental ordinance was adopted in 2020 allowing homes in Penn Lake Park Borough to operate as a STR.
A license is required and the STR License Application for Penn Lake Park. Penn Lake Park is a community formed to support Penn Lake Park and has approximately 300 full-time residents. It is not a HOA.

PLAINFIELD TOWNSHIP (Bath, Northampton County, PA)  phone# (610) 759-6944
No information on rules or regulations for Short-term Rentals in Plainfield Township, Northampton County has been published.

POCONO LAKE, PA, 18347 is a post office designation, not a municipality. Municipalities served by the Pocono Lake Post Office Zip Code = 18347 include: Tobyhanna Township, Coolbaugh Township

POCONO SUMMIT, PA, 18346 is a post office designation, not a municipality. Municipalities served by the Pocono Summit Post Office Zip Code = 18346 include: Tobyhanna Township, Tunkhannock Township and Coolbaugh Township

POCONO PINES, PA, 18350 is a post office designation and a census-designated place, not a municipality. The area includes Lake Naomi and Pinecrest Lake. Municipalities served by the Pocono Pines Post Office Zip Code = 18350 include: Coolbaugh Township and Tobyhanna Township

POCONO TOWNSHIP (Monroe County, including Tannersville, Swiftwater, Scotrun)
 Short-term rentals or Transient Dwelling Units as they are referred to as in Pocono Township are not allowed in R-1 and R-2 zoning areas in Pocono Township. Short term rentals are only allowed in C (Commercial) zones and RD (Recreational District) zones. An initial change of use permit under zoning and an annual license is required for a Transient Dwelling Unit Permit (STR)

POLK TOWNSHIP (Monroe County, including Brodheadsville, Kresgeville)
 Short-term rentals in Polk Township are not allowed in residential R-1 Zoned areas. STR is allowed in other zoning districts with a license and inspection. See Short-term Rental Changes in Polk Township. See Polk Township’s STR Ordinance.

PRICE TOWNSHIP (Monroe County)  (570) 421-2497
Price Township does not currently have restrictions concerning any type of short term rentals and according to the current elected supervisors, has no plans to implement one.

For further reference, please check our STR-Friendly Scorecard for Pocono area Planned Communities (POA/HOA).

ROARING BROOK TOWNSHIP (Lackawanna County)
 This small township, located at the intersection of I-380 and I-84 just outside Scranton, is in the North Pocono School District. The Zoning Officer of Roaring Brook Township indicated that there is a STR Ordinance and that only homes in commercial zoning can operate legally.

ROSS TOWNSHIP (Brodheadsville, Saylorsburg, Monroe County)
 Ross enacted a short-term rental ordinance in July, 2020 which allows vacation rental in properties located in general commercial and village commercial zoning, but does not allow them in residential zoned areas.

SALEM TOWNSHIP (Hamlin, Wayne County)
Salem Township in Wayne County lies just west of popular Lake Wallenpaupack and in starting in January 2023 will be implementing the Salem Township STR Ordinance which requires a township permit, a local contact person, occupancy limits and restrictions similar throughout the Poconos. See the STR Application Packet for Salem Township

SAYLORSBURG, PA, 18353 is a post office designation and a census-designated place, not a municipality.  Municipalities served by the Saylorsburg Post Office Zip Code = 18353 include: Hamilton Township and Ross Township.

SCOTRUN, PA 18355 is a post office designation, not a municipality.  The Scotrun Post Office/Zip code 18355 covers mostly Pocono Township.

SMITHFIELD TOWNSHIP (Monroe County including Shawnee, Marshall’s Creek)
Short-term rentals in Smithfield Township are only allowed in areas zoned as resort (R-E) Zoning District which is essentially Shawnee Mountain Ski Resort and an undeveloped parcel adjacent to Marshall Lake.  See the Smithfield Township Zoning Map

STERLING TOWNSHIP (Wayne County)
Salem Township in Wayne County has 1,500 residents and is located just north of Gouldsboro. See the STR Application Packet for Sterling Township

STROUD TOWNSHIP (Monroe County, including Bartonsville, Analomink)
STR is permitted only in the C-3 Zoning District of Stroud Township, with exceptions made for the Penn Estates and Blue Mountain Lakes communities  Short-term rental permits in Stroud Township require inspections and properties must meet certain guidelines.  

STROUDSBURG BOROUGH (Monroe County)
The borough of Stroudsburg has implemented a new Short-term Rental Ordinance and refined zoning regulations to prohibit short term rentals in residential districts (R-1, R-2 and R-3) and allow it in all other zoning districts.  A license and annual inspection is required, detail under Housing

STROUDSBURG ZIP CODE also cover a number of neighbor townships:
18360 = Borough of Stroudburg, Hamilton Township, Jackson Township, Stroud Township

SUMMIT HILL BOROUGH (Summit Hill, PA 18250)
Telephone #: (570) 645-2305
No rules or regulations affecting Short-Term Rentals in Summit Hill Borough have been published.

TAMAQUA BOROUGH (Schuylkill County)
Tamaqua has no ordinance specific to Short-term Rentals, they consider a whole house rental under the borough’s current rental regulations. One day or one year, same rules. All homes being rented in Tamaqua must be registered and be inspected.

TANNERSVILLE, PA 18372 is a post office designation, not a municipality. Municipalities served by the Tannersville Post Office Zip Code = 18372 include: Jackson Township, Pocono Township

THORNHURST TOWNSHIP(Lackawanna County)
Located just north of Arrowhead Lake, in the southern-most part of the Lackawanna County, Thornhurst Township adopted a Short-term Rental Ordinance in 2020.  A license and annual inspection are required.  Regulations require a local representative be available, parking on-property and limits of 2 people per bedroom and additional occupancy requirements.  

TOBYHANNA TOWNSHIP(Monroe County, including Pocono Pines, Pocono Lake, Blakeslee)
Tobyhanna Township approved a short-term rental ordinance in 2022. A revision to the ordinance was adopted in February of 2024 that changed the occupancy limit to 2 per bedroom + 2 and reduced fines for violations to be within state guidelines. Tobyhanna Township recently imposed a cap on the number of short term rentals licenses and due to the uncertainties surrounding license issuance, caution is advised when purchasing in Tobyhanna Township. Details on Tobyhanna Township’s STR portal.

TOWAMENSING TOWNSHIP (Lehighton, PA 18235)
Telephone #: (610) 681-4202
A Short-term Rental Ordinance was adopted by Towamensing Township late in 2020.  It provides a long list of rules and regulations that the owner and any of their guest must abide by.  A license is required, properties are subject to inspection by Code Enforcement.  The requirements include an indoor sprinkler system for fire safety.

TUNKHANNOCK TOWNSHIP (Monroe County including Long Pond, Pocono International Raceway)
Short-term rentals in Tunkhannock Township require permit, inspections and there are certain restrictions on the property

UPPER MOUNT BETHEL TOWNSHIP (Northampton County)  phone# 570-897-6127
No Short-term rentals are allowed in homes in Upper Mount Bethel Township, Northampton County. The exception is for seasonal cabins that are less than 800 square feet.

WALNUTPORT BOROUGH (Northampton County)
Walnutport is in the northwestern corner of Northampton county, close to the Lehigh Gap. Recent rules seem to only allow STR in multiple unit properties where an owner is present. Up to 5 units, minimum stay of 3 days, maximum stay of 14.

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP (Lehigh County)
Washington Township is largely silent on the issue.  Zoning regulations date back to 1974 and have no designation for short-term rentals.  Washington Township has no licensing for residential rental properties and at the present time, no motivation to change things.

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP (Bangor, Northampton County, PA)  Zoning Offie 610-759-8227
No information on rules or regulations for Short-term Rentals in Washington Township, Northampton County has been published.

WEATHERLY BOROUGH (Weatherly, PA 18255)
Telephone #: (570) 427-8640
No information about Short-Term Rentals in Weatherly Borough is available at this time.

WEISSPORT BOROUGH (Lehighton, PA 18235)
Telephone #: (610) 377-5606
No rules or regulations affecting Short-Term Rentals in Weissport Borough have been published.  The borough council has stated they are drafting a short-term rental ordinance for Weissport

WEST PENN TOWNSHIP (Schuylkill County)
No information on rules or regulations for Short-term Rentals in West Penn Township, Schuylkill County has been published.

This is an informal list that is subject to change as local ordinances and codes frequently change.  Anyone interested in using a home as a rental property should always check with the local municipality to see if local zoning allows this use or if permits are required.  

Feel free to email me Mark.Shay@kw.com me with any updates to this page

See my list of Short-term Rental Friendly Pocono Communities.

If you are interested in buying or selling a home that you can use as an investment, feel free to contact me: Mark Shay, Realtor or Mark Shay at Keller Williams

If you are wondering why municipalities in Pennsylvania can regulate Short-Term Rentals, you can refer to the 2019 court case called “Slice of Life, LLC v. Hamilton Township Zoning Hearing Board” in which the Pennsylvania Supreme Court upheld the ruling that a local zoning ordinance clearly and unambiguously excluded purely transient uses of property in R-1 Zoning. Further cases are clarifying this, especially at the community association level. See Short-Term Rentals Win Two Big Victories in Pennsylvania’s Commonwealth Courts

The post STR Municipal Scorecard: Rules on Short-term Rentals in Boroughs and Townships in Poconos appeared first on Pocono Vacation Home Sales & Short-term Rental.