Las Vegas Short-Term Rental Regulations

1. Registration & Licensing

Jurisdiction Overview

Las Vegas short-term rental regulations depend on your property's location. Clark County (which includes the Las Vegas Strip and unincorporated areas) and the City of Las Vegas have separate licensing requirements. Most residential properties in the metro area fall under one of these two jurisdictions.

City of Las Vegas Requirements

If your property is within City of Las Vegas limits, you must obtain a Short-Term Rental Business License:

1. Obtain Nevada state business license first: Register with the Nevada Secretary of State and obtain a State Business License.
2. Apply for City license: Submit your application to the City of Las Vegas Business License Division with your state license, property deed/lease, and proof of valid liability insurance ($500K minimum).
3. Property inspection: A City inspector will visit your property before issuance to verify safety requirements and occupancy limits.
4. Receive license: Once approved and inspected, your license will be issued with a unique license number.
5. Display number: Your license number must appear on all listings and advertisements.

Key Restrictions (City of Las Vegas)

• One license per person: You can hold a maximum of 1 STR license as an individual. LLCs and business entities may be able to hold more — verify with the Business License Division.
• 24/7 local contact: You must provide a local contact within 30 miles who is available 24/7 for guest issues, noise complaints, and City inquiries.
• License renewal: Annual renewal required with proof of current insurance.

Clark County Requirements

If your property is in unincorporated Clark County (outside City of Las Vegas), licensing is typically less restrictive, though you still must register and comply with health and safety standards. Contact the Clark County Business License Division for current requirements.

Fees

Type	Fee	Duration
City of Las Vegas STR Business License	$1,000	1 year

2. Tax Obligations

Nevada State Income Tax: NONE

Nevada has NO state income tax. This is a major advantage for STR hosts — you will not owe state income tax on rental income. However, you still must pay all applicable room taxes.

Transient Lodging Tax (Room Tax)

Clark County charges a combined transient lodging tax of approximately 13.38%, which includes:

• State room tax component
• County room tax component
• Tourism district assessments

Tax Collection and Filing

For platform bookings (Airbnb, VRBO, Booking.com): These platforms have collection agreements with Clark County and automatically collect and remit the full transient lodging tax on your behalf. You do not need to file separately for bookings made through these platforms.

For direct bookings: You must register with Clark County for a Transient Lodging Tax Certificate and file monthly returns with Clark County. Contact the Clark County Department of Comprehensive Planning for registration details.

Record Keeping

Keep all booking and revenue records for a minimum of 4 years for tax and audit purposes.

3. Operating Restrictions

No Night Cap

Unlike Los Angeles and some other cities, Las Vegas has no annual day or night limit for STR hosting. You can rent your property year-round without restriction on the number of days.

Primary Residence NOT Required

You do not need to live at the property. Investor-owned properties and properties managed entirely by third-party services are permitted, provided they meet all safety and licensing requirements.

Occupancy Rules

• Maximum occupancy: 2 guests per bedroom + 2 additional occupants (for common areas). A 2-bedroom unit can host maximum 6 people.
• No events or gatherings exceeding occupancy limits are permitted at any time.
• Guests must comply with all house rules provided by the host.

Guest Compliance

• 24/7 local contact: Provide guests with phone number for your local contact person or property manager.
• House rules: Provide written house rules covering guest conduct, parking, noise, and emergency procedures.
• HOA compliance: If your property is in an HOA community, you must comply with HOA rules regarding short-term rentals. Some HOAs restrict or prohibit STRs entirely.

Parking Requirements

You must provide adequate off-street parking for all guests. In multi-unit properties, parking must be clearly designated and not block other residents.

4. Safety Requirements

All STR properties must meet Nevada safety codes before licensing approval:

• Smoke detectors: Required in every bedroom and hallway. Must be in working condition and tested monthly.
• Carbon monoxide detectors: Required if the property has any gas appliances, heating system, or fireplace.
• Fire extinguisher: At least one accessible fire extinguisher on each floor (typically ABC-rated, 5-10 lb).
• Emergency evacuation plan: Posted in a visible location showing emergency exits and assembly point.
• Pool/spa safety: If applicable, pools and hot tubs must have proper barriers and safety signage per Nevada pool safety code.

Pre-Licensing Inspection

The City of Las Vegas (or Clark County) will conduct a pre-licensing inspection to verify all safety equipment is present and functional. Your property must pass this inspection before you receive your license.

5. Insurance Requirements

All STR hosts in Las Vegas must maintain $500,000 in liability insurance minimum. Some jurisdictions may require $1,000,000 — verify with your local licensing authority.

Insurance Details

• Coverage type: General liability or homeowners liability coverage that specifically covers short-term rental activity.
• Proof required: You must provide proof of current insurance when applying for your license and at every annual renewal.
• Standalone policy: Platform coverage (Airbnb Host Protection, VRBO liability) is secondary only and does NOT satisfy Las Vegas licensing requirements. You must obtain your own policy.
• Your homeowners policy likely excludes STR activity — check with your carrier before relying on it.

6. Fines & Penalties

Las Vegas and Clark County have increased enforcement since 2023. Violations carry substantial penalties:

Violation	Fine
Operating without a license	$1,000/day
Failure to display license number on listings	$500–$1,000 per occurrence
Exceeding occupancy limits	$500–$1,000 per occurrence
Safety equipment violations (missing detectors, etc.)	$500–$1,000 per occurrence
Noise complaints or party violations	$500–$1,000 per occurrence
Repeated violations or license non-compliance	License suspension or revocation

Enforcement Trends

Clark County has expanded enforcement activities targeting illegal STR operations. Noise complaints trigger immediate investigations. Platforms (Airbnb, VRBO) are increasingly removing non-compliant listings. Operating without a valid license is the most common violation and carries the highest daily fines.

7. What Platforms Handle vs What You Handle

Platforms (Airbnb, VRBO, Booking.com) Handle:

• Collect and remit transient lodging tax for bookings made through their platform
• Verify valid license number appears on listings (some platforms)
• Provide secondary liability coverage (not sufficient for licensing)
• Remove listings that violate platform policies

You Must Handle:

• Register with Nevada Secretary of State for a state business license
• Apply for and obtain a City of Las Vegas (or Clark County) STR license ($1,000)
• Install and maintain all required safety equipment (smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher, evacuation plan)
• Obtain $500K–$1M liability insurance independently
• Pass pre-licensing safety inspection
• Display your license number on all listings and advertisements
• Provide 24/7 local contact within 30 miles to guests and authorities
• Enforce occupancy limits and house rules
• Register with Clark County for transient lodging tax (for direct bookings)
• Keep 4 years of booking and revenue records
• Renew your license annually with proof of current insurance
• Respond to noise complaints and maintain guest compliance
• Comply with all HOA rules if applicable

8. Key Deadlines & Renewal

Deadline	Details
License renewal	Annual renewal required. Fee: $1,000. Submit proof of current insurance.
Property inspection	Required before initial license issuance and may be required for renewal.
Transient tax filing	Monthly (for direct bookings). Due by 25th of following month.
Record retention	Keep all booking and revenue records for minimum 4 years.
Compliance audits	Random compliance checks and noise complaint investigations can occur at any time.

Official Resources

• City of Las Vegas — Business Licensing Division
• Clark County — Short-Term Residential Rental Information
• Nevada Department of Taxation

Related Articles

• How to Avoid Airbnb and STR Fines & Penalties
• STR Taxes Explained: What You Need to Know

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