Estimated read time: Less than a minute
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Philadelphia has legalized and plans to tax Airbnb and other short-term rentals ahead of Pope Francis' visit in September and next year's Democratic National Convention.
Airbnb says the city on Wednesday became the nation's largest to legalize rentals through online marketplaces. It joins San Francisco and Portland, Oregon, among cities authorizing the transactions.
Philadelphia also changed zoning rules to allow rentals in residential areas and is subjecting them to an 8 1/2 percent hotel tax. The rentals had been operating tax free.
City Councilman William Greenlee says Airbnb-type rentals are essentially short-term hotels and should be made to follow the same rules.
A permit is required for rentals lasting more than 30 days. The city says homes can't be rented out for more than 180 days per year.
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
