Is it legal to run an Airbnb in my apartment building?

The legality of operating a short-term rental inside an apartment building depends on several overlapping layers of regulation, and the answer varies widely depending on where you live. There is no single global rule, so you need to check local, building-level, and contractual restrictions.

Local government regulations are the first layer. Hundreds of cities around the world have enacted short-term rental ordinances that require hosts to register, obtain a license, collect and remit occupancy taxes, or comply with safety inspections. New York City, for example, has effectively banned most short-term rentals in residential apartment buildings unless the host is present during the guest's stay.

Lease agreements form the second layer. Even in cities where short-term rentals are technically legal, most standard residential leases contain clauses that prohibit subletting or require landlord approval before hosting paying guests. Violating these terms violates the lease and is grounds for eviction, regardless of what local law permits.

HOA and condo association rules are the third layer. Many homeowner associations and condominium boards have amended their CC&Rs (Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions) to explicitly ban or limit short-term rentals. These rules apply to owners and, by extension, to any tenants in the building.

If you are a neighbor affected by illegal short-term rental activity, knowing the applicable rules gives you standing. Start by checking your city's short-term rental registry (if one exists), review your own lease or building bylaws, and run a BnBDetector report to document the level of activity in your building before raising the issue with management or local enforcement.