Vacation Rental House Rules Template (Airbnb-Compliant)

Start with What the Platform Already Decides

Airbnb lets hosts choose standard house rules in set categories: pets, events, smoking (including vaping and e-cigarettes), quiet hours, check-in and checkout times, check-in method, maximum number of guests, and commercial photography and filming. Anything else goes under "additional rules," which Airbnb says should not contradict your standard rules. Your house rules appear in the listing description, in the booking terms, in automated guest emails and in the arrival guide.

Several Airbnb policies apply whatever your rules say:

• Service animals. Airbnb says service animals always stay for free. Hosts generally cannot refuse a guest with a service animal or charge pet or cleaning fees for one. You may ask only whether the animal is needed because of a disability and what task it has been trained to perform.
• Cameras. Airbnb does not allow security cameras or recording devices that monitor indoor spaces, even if they are turned off. Exterior cameras must be disclosed in the listing, with their location. Noise decibel monitors are allowed in common areas (not bedrooms or bathrooms) if disclosed.
• Parties. Airbnb's community disturbance policy prohibits disruptive gatherings of any size and open-invite parties, and does not allow listings to be advertised as party friendly.
• Fees and payments. Airbnb's off-platform policy prohibits requesting or receiving payments outside Airbnb, with narrow exceptions, and requires mandatory fees to be disclosed. A rule cannot add a surprise fee collected later in cash.
• Checkout tasks. Airbnb's ground rules say the cleaning fee covers standard cleaning between reservations and hosts may not charge guests for not doing specific cleaning or checkout tasks.
• Guest ID. Hosts may not ask guests to send photos of their government ID before arrival unless the law requires it, and then the requirement must be disclosed in the listing before booking.
• Fair treatment. Hosts must follow Airbnb's nondiscrimination policy.

Vrbo and Booking.com have their own terms. If you list on several channels, keep one master set of rules and check it against each.

How to Use the Template

Replace everything in [brackets]. Delete any rule that does not apply to your home; fewer rules get read. Put the same wording in the platform's house rules fields and in the printed house manual, so guests see one version. Our guest-ready checklist includes putting the printed manual out at each turnover.

The Template

Welcome to [home name]

Thank you for staying with us. These rules keep the house safe, our neighbors happy and the next guest's stay as good as yours.

Check-in and checkout

• Check-in is from [time]. Checkout is by [time].
• Check-in is by [keypad / smart lock / lockbox]. Your code works from check-in to checkout.
• Before you leave, please: turn off lights, close and lock windows and doors, put food waste in the trash, and set the thermostat to [temperature].
• That is all we ask. Please do not worry about laundry or vacuuming.

Guests and visitors

• The maximum number of guests is [number], including children. [Infants under 2 / are not / are] counted.
• Visitors who are not on the reservation [are not allowed / are allowed between (time) and (time) with our approval through the platform].
• Events and parties are not allowed. [Or, if you approve small gatherings: Gatherings of more than (number) people need our approval in advance.]

Quiet hours and neighbors

• Quiet hours are [10 p.m.] to [8 a.m.]. Sound carries across the water at night, so please keep voices and music low outdoors.
• Please park only in [the driveway / the marked spaces], never on the road or the neighbor's lawn. Parking is limited to [number] vehicles.
• [Noise monitor disclosure, if any: A noise level monitor is installed in the (location). It measures decibels only and does not record audio.]
• [Exterior camera disclosure, if any: There is a camera at (location) covering (area). There are no cameras inside the home.]

Smoking, fires and heat

• Smoking and vaping are not allowed [anywhere on the property / indoors; outdoors only at (location)].
• [Wood stove or fireplace: Use only the wood provided. Keep the screen closed. Put ash only in the metal can outside, never in the trash.]
• [Fire pit: Fires only in the fire pit, only when [the town allows fires / a permit is in place], never in high wind, and always fully put out with water before bed.]
• Please do not set the heat below [temperature] in winter; pipes can freeze.

Pets

• [Pets are not allowed. Service animals are always welcome.]
• [Or: Up to (number) dogs are welcome with approval when you book. Please keep them off beds and furniture and pick up after them. Service animals are always welcome and are not charged a pet fee.]

Water, septic and well

• This home is on a septic system. Please flush only toilet paper. No wipes (even "flushable"), paper towels, grease or feminine products.
• [Well water: The water is safe to drink / We provide bottled water for drinking.]

Lake, hot tub and outdoor safety (delete what does not apply)

• [Life jackets are in (location). Children must wear one on the dock and in boats.]
• [Kayaks and paddleboards are used at your own risk; please stay within (area) and off the water after dark.]
• [Hot tub: no glass, no children without an adult, keep the cover locked when not in use.]
• [Bears: Please keep all trash in the (shed / locking bins) and never leave food outside.]

Winter

• Please use the [front / side] door; it is the one we clear and salt.
• Snow removal is scheduled after storms. If you need help, message us through the platform.
• [All-wheel drive or snow tires are strongly recommended between (month) and (month).]

Damage and problems

• Accidents happen. Please tell us about any damage or anything not working as soon as you notice, through the platform's messages.
• In an emergency, call 911 first. The address is [full address].

New England Details Worth Adding

Rules work best when they answer local questions. Common ones in NH, MA and VT: whether a beach or boat launch needs a town sticker, where the transfer station is if there is no curbside trash, what to do in a power outage (where the flashlights are), and how to reach the house if the road ices over. Put the long-form local details in your local area guide and keep the rules themselves short.

For the safety equipment behind several of these rules (alarms, extinguishers, egress), see our insurance and safety guide. If your home is in a condo or HOA, its rules on pets, parking, noise and amenities apply too; see HOA and condo rules.

New England Host Co builds and maintains listings, house rules included, as part of its full-service management. Start at the Renting Out Your Home on Airbnb in New England hub.

FAQ

Can I charge a pet fee to a guest with a service animal?

No. Airbnb says hosts generally cannot refuse a guest with a service animal or charge pet or cleaning fees for one.

Can I Have a Camera Inside the House If I Tell Guests?

No. Since April 30, 2024, Airbnb does not allow security cameras or recording devices that monitor indoor spaces, even if disclosed or turned off.

Can I Fine Guests for Breaking House Rules?

Do not set fines in your rules. Airbnb prohibits collecting payments off the platform and says hosts may not charge for checkout tasks not done. For damage, use the platform's own process.

How Many House Rules Should I Have?

As few as do the job. Airbnb itself advises against overwhelming guests with rules; keep those that protect safety, neighbors and the home.