Local Lawmakers Propose Legislation to Regulate Airbnbs — Again

PHOTO: ADOBE STOCK

As tourism season ramps up ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh, a local lawmaker is proposing legislation that could reform how short-term rentals are regulated across the state.

Introduced by state Reps. Lindsay Powell, (D-Allegheny), and Mary Jo Daley (D-Montgomery) on March 25, H.B. 2303, would “establish countywide registries of short-term rental properties, require the designation of a 24/7 ‘person in charge’ for each property, create distinct regulatory categories for homestay operators, vacation rental operators and corporate operators, and implement baseline safety standards across all properties with enhanced requirements for larger-scale operators, according to a press release.

“One of the best parts about short-term rentals is the opportunity they provide. They provide access to so many communities across our commonwealth, allowing each of us to visit areas across Pennsylvania comfortably and easily,” Rep. Powell says in a statement. 

She adds that the need for reform, however, is great — and personal.

“Over the last two years, there have been two shootings, with one being fatal, at Airbnbs in my community,” she says, referencing the Easter Sunday shooting at an Airbnb on the North Side that left two teenagers dead in 2022 and the New Years Eve shooting at an East Deutchtown Airbnb earlier this year. “This legislation would ensure that a growing part of our economy is regulated both for the safety of guests and for the continuing development of our tourism industry.”

Following both shootings, officials have called for reform and additional regulations governing how and to whom Airbnbs can be rented. Following the 2022 fatal shooting, Councilman Bobby Wilson, who represents Pittsburgh’s District 1, which includes the Northside, introduced legislation to establish baseline safety standards, clarify oversight and ensure the public knows who is operating the Airbnbs and how to reach them, should the need arise. 

As of the January shooting, Wilson said that the ordinance was still held up in the courts.

City Council members also pushed for legislation in February that would require people operating Airbnb’s to obtain a permit from the city, limit how many rentals can operate in one building and ban the units from being used for “public assemblies, recreational entertainment, or hospitality activities.” 

The measures would also require a ledger of guests to be kept and require guests to be at least 18 years old unless accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. 

At present, there are no restrictions on short-term rentals on the books in Pittsburgh, although neighboring boroughs have introduced similar legislation. Millvale requires annual registration and limits Airbnbs to specific zoning districts; Swissvale does not allow Airbnbs at all within certain districts, such as single family residential districts and the Carrie Furnace Development District.

“Considering this legislation in committee is a significant step toward creating a balanced, responsible future for our communities,” Rep. Daley, chair of the House Tourism, Recreation and Economic Development Committee, says in a press release. “By moving these rules forward, we are fulfilling our promise to protect the character of our neighborhoods while fostering a thriving tourism economy built around safety, accountability and fairness for everyone.”

House Bill 2303 will be considered by the committee at a later date. Full video of the hearing, including opening remarks from Powell, can be found here.