Overview and explicit answer

• Are short-term rentals allowed in Pittston, PA? Explicitly: The source set contains no city of Pittston short-term rental (STR) ordinance or website content. That means, as of March 2025, there is no city-issued STR license or specific STR zoning provision documented. State law and county practice do not impose a city-level permit for STRs. You may operate provided that:
  1. the use is authorized by local zoning (a standard residential STR typically needs a variance, conditional use, or a specific STR allowance; absence of an STR ordinance does not grant a right to rent),
  2. you register with and remit Pennsylvania hotel occupancy tax and any applicable local hotel taxes,
  3. you comply with building, fire, safety, and health codes for residential occupancy, and
  4. HOA/planned community rules (if any) do not prohibit such rentals.
• Because “allowed” in zoning is local and municipality-specific, do not assume a right to operate. The default starting point is that exclusive transient commercial use in a residential zone is not permitted unless the zoning code expressly allows it. The document set includes no zoning opinion for Pittston; you must confirm zoning with the City of Pittston or the Luzerne County planning/zoning office.

Luzerne County context

• County classification: Third class.
• Hotel tax: 5% (county) plus 6% (state) = 11% combined hotel tax. Your guests pay this; you must collect and remit.
• No county-level STR licensing is shown in the document set. County health programs target rooming houses/boarding homes (4+ unrelated persons), not private single-family STRs.

Key state-level requirements (short-term rentals are “hotels” for tax purposes)

• Definition: Under Pennsylvania tax law, a “hotel” includes any building held out to the public for overnight lodging for consideration for less than 30 days. STRs are therefore “hotels” for occupancy tax collection.
• State hotel occupancy tax: 6%.
• Booking agents (Airbnb, VRBO, etc.) collect/remit on your behalf by law; they are not merely advertisers. If you do not use a booking agent exclusively, you must register, collect, and remit hotel tax yourself.
• PA Department of Revenue licensing: Register for Sales, Use, and Hotel Occupancy Tax.
• Local hotel taxes: In Luzerne County, an additional 5% county hotel tax is imposed; total hotel tax = 11%. You must also collect any local room taxes where applicable, although the document set lists no Pittston city room tax.
• Records: Maintain guest records (renter name, contact, check-in/out dates, occupants/guests) for at least two years. If you use a booking agent, they collect taxes and some keep records; if you self-manage, you must do so.
• Insurance: Standard homeowners policies often exclude home-based business activity; consider a rider or a separate short-term rental liability policy. Platforms provide limited host liability, but coverage varies; do not rely on it as your sole protection.
• Liability and safety: You remain responsible for guest safety and property conditions. Ensure working smoke and CO detectors, safe egress, and address any nuisances. If your operation escalates to a boarding house (4+ unrelated persons), you will trigger county housing inspections and compliance expectations.

How to start a short-term rental business in this market

• Decide on your business model
  • Homestay: Owner lives on-site and rents rooms (most permissive under zoning, often minimal regulation).
  • Entire home STR: Standard, but usually requires zoning approval (variance, conditional use, or STR zoning) in most communities.
  • Multiple properties or portfolio: Considered commercial. Expect more inspections, taxes, and potential treatment akin to visitor accommodation in certain municipalities. Consider registering a formal entity and obtaining a business privilege/license if required at the local level.
• Confirm zoning and land-use eligibility
  • Contact the City of Pittston Codes/Zoning office (or the appropriate borough/township if your parcel is outside city limits but in Luzerne County). Ask:
    • Are STRs allowed in the zoning district for my property?
    • If not, is a variance, conditional use permit, or special exception available for “transient lodging,” “tourist home,” “rooming house,” “visitor accommodation,” or similar?
    • Are there caps on nights rented per year or maximum occupancy rules?
    • Are there parking, signage, or neighborhood-impact standards?
  • The “Slice of Life” line of cases means exclusive transient use of a single-family dwelling in a residential district is not allowed absent an express zoning provision. Do not skip this step.
• Register for taxes
  • Register with the PA Department of Revenue for Sales, Use, and Hotel Occupancy Tax.
  • Set up tax collection procedures to remit the 6% state hotel tax and the 5% county tax. If you use a booking agent, confirm that they are remitting on your behalf. If not, you must collect and remit.
• Build a compliance and safety plan
  • Safety: Smoke/CO alarms; safe egress; electrical/plumbing in safe condition; reasonable occupancy limits.
  • Records: Maintain two years of guest information.
  • Nuisance controls: Quiet hours, party prevention, waste management, parking, and contact information for a local responsible party.
  • Insurance: Secure short-term rental liability coverage or appropriate riders.
• Launch and operate
  • List on platforms that comply with tax laws (Airbnb/VRBO collect and remit hotel tax in PA).
  • Provide guests with house rules, safety info, local trash/recycling schedules, and local emergency contacts.
  • Monitor compliance and keep permits/records current.

Documents, permits, licenses, and guidelines (what to obtain in Pittston/Luzerne)

• City of Pittston
  • STR-specific license/permit: Not documented. Confirm none is required with the City Codes/Zoning office.
  • General zoning/land-use approval: Required for any STR unless your property already has a permitted use (e.g., a commercially zoned lot where transient lodging is allowed). Expect to need a variance, conditional use, or STR-specific zoning approval for a residential property.
  • Rental unit registration/inspection: Not documented for Pittston in the sources. Confirm whether any general rental registration applies.
  • Business license/privilege tax: Confirm with the City whether any general business license is required.
• Luzerne County
  • No STR-specific license documented in the sources.
  • If your property operates as a rooming/boarding house (4+ unrelated persons), county health/housing inspections and permits likely apply.
  • Hotel tax registration/remittance: Required for the 5% county room tax. Registration is typically through the PA Department of Revenue alongside the state hotel tax.
• State (Pennsylvania)
  • Sales, Use, and Hotel Occupancy Tax License (PA DOR).
  • Compliance with the Lodging and Housing Code (Title 48 Pa.C.S.) for transient lodging; this covers safety, guest protections, and recordkeeping expectations.
• HOA/Planned Community
  • Check declarations, bylaws, and covenants. Recent court decisions show that blanket bans on “commercial use” can be narrowly construed and that bylaws may not override declarations that authorize rentals. If an HOA bans short-term rentals by name, or limits the term and manner of rental, that restriction will likely control.

Specific regulations for STRs in this market

• Municipal (Pittston)
  • The document set includes no municipal STR ordinance for the City of Pittston. Absent an explicit ordinance, the use must fit within your zoning. Many municipalities treat entire-home STRs as commercial transient lodging, requiring zoning approvals. Your next step is to obtain a zoning ruling.
• County (Luzerne County)
  • Third-class county hotel tax at 5% (total 11% with state).
  • County health programs focus on rooming houses (4+ unrelated), not private single-family STRs.
• State (Pennsylvania)
  • Hotel Occupancy Tax: 6% on rentals under 30 days.
  • Booking agents collect and remit state and applicable local hotel taxes on your behalf; if you collect directly, you must register and remit.
  • Lodging and Housing Code provisions govern “lodging establishments” and transient occupancy protections and recordkeeping.
  • STR income is taxed as business income; you may deduct ordinary and necessary business expenses.
  • Insurance: Homeowners policies often exclude short-term rental activity; add coverage accordingly.

Contact information (local authority for STRs)

• City of Pittston (primary municipal authority)
  • Phone: 570-654-0513
  • Email/Website: Not provided in the source set. Check the City of Pittston official website or call for the Codes/Zoning department contact and current application procedures.
• Luzerne County (hotel tax and enforcement context)
  • Hotel Tax Contact: Not identified in the provided materials. The County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania (CCAP) maintains “County Hotel Tax Rates and Contact Information.” Reference CCAP’s public list for the current Luzerne County contact.
• Pennsylvania Department of Revenue (state tax licensing and reporting)
  • Website: pa.gov (Revenue section) — Sales, Use, and Hotel Occupancy Tax resources for home-sharing and third-party broker rentals.
• Pennsylvania Department of Health (if operating as a rooming/boarding house)
  • Regional office coverage varies; call the Department of Health main line for the correct regional office if your property meets the definition of a rooming/boarding facility.

Important source-page links

• Short-Term Rental Industry in Pennsylvania (Joint State Government Commission, March 2025)
  • jsg.legis.state.pa.us/resources/documents/ftp/publications/2025-03-17%20Short-term%20Rental%20Web%203.17.25.pdf
• PA Department of Revenue – Home-sharing/Third-party Broker Rentals
  • www.pa.gov/agencies/revenue/resources/tax-types-and-information/sales-use-and-hotel-occupancy-tax/home-sharing.html
• CCAP – County Hotel Tax Rates and Contact Information (PDF)
  • www.pacounties.org/getmedia/607608ac-4f1d-44e9-93c3-5fc2f1f747d0/Hotel-Tax-Rates-and-Contacts.pdf
• Airbnb Help Center – Collecting and remitting PA hotel taxes
  • www.airbnb.com/help/article/2325

Closing guidance for investors

• Explicit answer recap: No city-specific STR license/permit appears in the provided sources for Pittston; STRs are not automatically permitted. You must secure zoning approval (variance/conditional use/STR zoning), register for and remit state/county hotel taxes (11% combined in Luzerne County), and meet safety and recordkeeping requirements. If you are outside the City of Pittston but within Luzerne County, check the applicable borough/township’s zoning and any local business/rental rules that may apply. Finally, ensure HOA compliance and appropriate insurance coverage before listing.