Why is it that most “authorities” that ban STR (or heavily regulate) decide to ban or regulate rental “30 days or less”? Why is 30 days no good, but 31 days okay? Why isn’t 21 days good? What’s the “theory” behind the 30 day cutoff?

30 days you are a tenant, and have protections.

have to draw a line in the sand somewhere. Somebody said 30 days and everyone followed suit. I was a the Dr last week and the Nurse said Charley Horse. I asked if that was a medical term, which it isn't. I asked who is Charlie and what happened to his horse. She had no idea where that came from either.

If the speed limit is 30, why not 31?

Because one month is legally considered a long-term tenant. Anything less than 30 days is short-term. They could have chosen a different number, but one month makes sense because short-term renters tend to stay for days or weeks, not months. @John Underwood Baseball story about the origins of Charley Horse: from an 1887 newspaper article:

Hey @Don Konipol, so I am guessing that most municipalities/counties/states have 30 days as the beginning of a long term rental where tenants rights come into play. Some states it is 28 days but most states it is 30 days. By having that as a minimum, owners are forced to deal with guests as tenants.

Well, you see, it all goes back to the ancient Greek lunar calendar system.In short, it's "loony".I think they mental shortcut for a "month" being different from a week is easier for regulators to grasp.

Like Michael and Jay said above, I think it has something to do with tenants rights after 30 days! In Indiana, it's 28 days, but I think that is the general cut off because the guests would start having tenants rights after that mark.

I think people think of daily and even weekly rentals as truly transient renters, whereas monthly and annual rentals as being more resident based. That said I have seen 14 day minimums and 3 month minimums as well so while by and large monthly and annual terms are common they are not all inclusive.

Funny you mention Charlie. I asked the same thing about him when I was helping my friend Jack off his horse.

Why is the “Cutoff” 30 days?Why is the “Cutoff” 30 days?

Back

Resources & Media

Resource Hub Bookstore Blog Guides Pro-Exclusives PRO Podcasts Pro Partnerships Property Management Toolkit

Events & Training

BPCON2025 Webinars Bootcamps Upcoming Events Free Courses

Strategies

How to Manage Your Rental Property How to Operate a Short-Term Rental How to Passively Invest in Real Estate How to House Hack How Does the BRRRR Method Work How to Flip a House How to Invest in Commercial Real Estate How to Invest in Real Estate How to Invest in Multifamily Real Estate How to Build Wealth

The BiggerPockets Conference

This is your chance to learn from the best, network with the best, and become one of the best in the game.

Discover BPCON2025

The Podcast Investors Trust

No fluff. Just deals, strategies, and lessons from the front lines of today's market.

Listen Now

Back

Pick Markets

Market Finder - NEW PRO Picking a Market Workshop PRO Picking a Market Worksheet Top 100 Cash Flow Markets Market Insights - Sunbelt Region

Market finder

Pinpoint the best real estate market for your specific goals with expert recommendations and real-time data on appreciation, affordability, rent-to-price ratio, and more.

Pick Markets

Pro membership

Get unlimited access to tools and resources that make it easier to find, analyze, and manage deals with confidence!

Upgrade to Pro

Back

Find Deals

BiggerDeals NEW Off-Market Deal finding PRO Real Estate Syndications Investor-Friendly Agents Find Foreclosures Community Listings (FSBO) Business Directory

NEW! Find Cash-Flowing Deals Fast

Search nationwide listings with built-in cash flow analysis.

Find Deals

Invelo - off market deals

Scale your portfolio with off-market deals.