Overview: Are Short-Term Rentals Allowed in Connellsville, PA?

• Yes, short-term rentals can operate in Connellsville, but only if permitted by applicable zoning and other general laws. The City of Connellsville does not have a city-specific short‑term rental ordinance. Under Pennsylvania law, short‑term rentals (rentals of less than 30 days) are treated as “lodging establishments” and are subject to state hotel occupancy tax, local hotel room taxes where applicable, and local zoning rules. Fayette County also does not have county‑wide STR regulations. Therefore, investors must rely on general city property maintenance codes, zoning, HOA covenants (if any), and state statutes.

How to Start a Short-Term Rental Business in Connellsville

• Confirm zoning:
  • Verify whether short‑term rentals are a permitted use, conditional use, or prohibited use in the specific zoning district of your property. Pennsylvania case law (Slice of Life, 2019) allows municipalities to prohibit purely transient commercial use of single‑family dwellings in residential zones unless the zoning ordinance explicitly permits it.
• County and municipal registrations:
  • Fayette County: No county-wide STR registration program.
  • City of Connellsville: No dedicated STR registration program identified in the provided sources; general city rental/property codes may apply if any.
• State tax registration:
  • Register for a Pennsylvania Sales, Use, and Hotel Occupancy Tax License with the Department of Revenue to collect and remit the 6% state hotel occupancy tax and any local hotel room taxes.
• Insurance and safety:
  • Confirm coverage under your homeowners policy or obtain riders/stand‑alone STR liability coverage. Ensure smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, and basic fire safety measures are installed; follow general state lodging establishment standards where applicable.
• HOA/Planned Community checks:
  • Review covenants, declarations, and bylaws; Pennsylvania courts have enforced lease prohibitions in planned communities where clearly stated and distinguished transient use from private residential use.
• Collect and remit taxes:
  • Collect state hotel occupancy tax (6%) plus applicable local room taxes (if any). If using a booking agent, confirm their collection/remittance obligations.
• Listing platforms:
  • Provide required disclosures to guests, including occupancy limits, quiet hours, trash collection rules, and emergency contacts.

Required Documents, Permits, Licenses, and Guidelines

• State-level (Pennsylvania):
  • PA Sales, Use, and Hotel Occupancy Tax License (for collection/remittance).
  • Commercial STRs: comply with “lodging establishment” standards (recordkeeping, guest safety).
  • Insurance: homeowners policy rider or stand‑alone STR policy (liability, guest injury, property damage).
  • Safety: smoke/CO detectors, basic fire protections consistent with lodging establishment guidance.
• County-level (Fayette County):
  • No county STR program or registry. If the property is a rooming/boarding house, county health/housing enforcement may apply.
• City-level (Connellsville):
  • No specific STR ordinance identified; general property maintenance and zoning codes apply. Verify whether a local rental occupancy report, registration, or inspection is required for any residential rental activity.

Specific Regulations: City, County, and State

City of Connellsville (Fayette County) — No Specific STR Ordinance

• Zoning:
  • Use PA Municipalities Planning Code guidance and local zoning to determine permissibility. Under Slice of Life, purely transient short‑term rentals may be prohibited in residential districts unless explicitly permitted.
• Property maintenance and occupancy:
  • General city codes may set occupancy limits, noise/nuisance standards, and maintenance requirements; check with the Zoning/Code Enforcement Office.

Fayette County — No County‑wide STR Program

• Health/housing enforcement:
  • May regulate rooming houses/boarding homes (four or more unrelated occupants) rather than single‑family STRs.

Pennsylvania — State Regulations Governing STRs

• Lodging and Housing Code (48 Pa.C.S. §1311 et seq.):
  • Defines “lodging establishment” expansively to include any place held out to the public for overnight lodging for consideration; applies to STRs.
  • Defines “temporary lodging” as occupancy for less than 30 days (or day‑to‑day basis if over 30 days).
  • Provides protections for hotelkeepers and guests; requires recordkeeping, order maintenance, and safety measures.
• Taxes:
  • Hotel Occupancy Tax: 6% state tax applies; collected by the operator or booking agent.
  • Local hotel room taxes: vary by county; collected by the local tax authority.
  • Booking agents must collect/remit the state tax; hosts using agents should confirm whether the agent handles local room taxes.
  • Personal Income Tax: Pennsylvania levies a 3.07% PIT on net STR income; expenses may offset gross rents.
• Insurance:
  • Standard homeowners policies often exclude home‑based business activities; riders or stand‑alone STR policies are recommended (liability, guest injuries, property damage, theft).
• HOA/Planned Communities:
  • Restrictive covenants may prohibit commercial leasing or transient rentals; declarations and bylaws control. PA courts distinguish between commercial and private residential use and enforce clear covenant language.
• Zoning Context:
  • The Municipalities Planning Code governs land use; municipalities may permit, condition, or prohibit STRs in zoning districts. Absent explicit permission, STRs may be deemed impermissible in residential zones under Slice of Life.

Contact Information

• City of Connellsville (Zoning/Code Enforcement, Permits, Property Maintenance)
  • Phone: 724‑626‑2204
  • Website: www.connellsville.org
• Fayette County (Rooms Tax Contacts — for local hotel room taxes if applicable)
  • Phone: 724‑430‑1200
  • Website: www.fayettecountypa.org
• Pennsylvania Department of Revenue (Hotel Occupancy Tax, Sales/Use Tax)
  • Phone: 717‑787‑1064
  • Home‑sharing/STR guidance: www.pa.gov/agencies/revenue/resources/tax-types-and-information/sales-use-and-hotel-occupancy-tax/home-sharing.html
• Pennsylvania Local Government Commission (Municipal zoning references and resources)
  • Phone: 717‑783‑4397
  • Website: www.lgc.state.pa.us
• Pennsylvania Joint State Government Commission (State lodging code and STR study resources)
  • Phone: 717‑787‑4397
  • Website: jsg.legis.state.pa.us

Source Pages

• Pennsylvania Department of Revenue — Home‑sharing and STR guidance: www.pa.gov/agencies/revenue/resources/tax-types-and-information/sales-use-and-hotel-occupancy-tax/home-sharing.html
• JSG Commission — The Short‑Term Rental Industry in Pennsylvania (2025): jsg.legis.state.pa.us/resources/documents/ftp/publications/2025-03-17%20Short-term%20Rental%20Web%203.17.25.pdf
• City of Connellsville official website: www.connellsville.org
• Fayette County official website: www.fayettecountypa.org
• Pennsylvania Local Government Commission: www.lgc.state.pa.us

Notes for investors: Because Connellsville lacks an STR‑specific ordinance, the legal status of a particular property depends on its zoning classification, HOA covenants, and compliance with state lodging and tax rules. Verify local zoning with the city’s Code Enforcement/Zoning Office and review any HOA restrictions before purchasing or listing a property.