STR LOS Calculation

[Jules Aton]

Is the STR length of stay calculated by number of days or number of nights? PM accepted long rental that has me close on my <7 average stay rule. I have an accountant who I would prefer not to bug with this, googled with conflicting answers and attempted to search here without luck. Thank you in advance.

[John Underwood]

Quote from @Jules Aton:

Is the STR length of stay calculated by number of days or number of nights? PM accepted long rental that has me close on my <7 average stay rule. I have an accountant who I would prefer not to bug with this, googled with conflicting answers and attempted to search here without luck. Thank you in advance.

 Found this:

In the short-term rental world (like Airbnb, Vrbo, or local STR regulations), length of stay is almost always calculated by nights — not days.

✅ Example:

A guest checks in on Friday and checks out on Monday.

They stay 3 nights (Friday, Saturday, Sunday) even though they’re there 4 calendar days (part of Friday through part of Monday).

Here’s how each context typically uses it:

🏨 Booking platforms (Airbnb, Vrbo, etc.): Charge and display stays in nights.

🏛️ Local STR laws and zoning ordinances: Usually define short-term rentals as stays under 30 consecutive nights.

🧾 Taxes and occupancy reports: Usually based on nights rented too.

The only time "days" might matter is for insurance policies or local business licenses, but even then, they almost always convert it back to nights for consistency.

Would you like me to check how your city or county specifically defines it? (It can affect permitting and tax rules.) If so, tell me the city and state.