Airbnb's house rules policy, quoted

The exact sentences from Airbnb's pages, grouped by topic, each with its source. Fetched 2026-10-24; Airbnb may change its pages, so follow the links for the current text.

Not affiliated with Airbnb. Not legal advice. To check your own rules line by line, use the house rules check.

When it applies

“This policy applies to all reservations booked on or after November 20, 2026”
Reasonable house rules and requests (Help Center)

“Guests must follow hosts’ house rules, and are encouraged to comply with hosts’ requests.”
Reasonable house rules and requests (Help Center)

The 7 standard rules

“Maximum overnight guests: Determine how many people can stay in your home.”
Important changes to house rules (Resource Center, Oct 20, 2026)

“Quiet hours: Select when noise should be kept to a minimum.”
Important changes to house rules (Resource Center, Oct 20, 2026)

“Events: Indicate if events are allowed at your home.”
Important changes to house rules (Resource Center, Oct 20, 2026)

“Pets: Let guests know whether or not pets are allowed and, if so, how many.”
Important changes to house rules (Resource Center, Oct 20, 2026)

“Smoking: Specify whether or not smoking, including vaping and e-cigarettes, is permitted.”
Important changes to house rules (Resource Center, Oct 20, 2026)

“Commercial photography: Tell guests whether or not commercial photography and filming is allowed.”
Important changes to house rules (Resource Center, Oct 20, 2026)

“Lock up at checkout: Note if this is required, and add optional details about where to return keys.”
Important changes to house rules (Resource Center, Oct 20, 2026)

Where rules and requests must be

“Hosts may not communicate new house rules or requests in other sections of their listing page or after booking, including by message, signs in the home, or in person.”
Reasonable house rules and requests (Help Center)

Chores, amenities and fines

“Ask guests to complete tasks that require significant effort or time, or would typically be performed by a cleaner, including stripping the bed, taking trash offsite, or washing and putting away dishes.”
Reasonable house rules and requests (Help Center)

“Dishes: Guests shouldn’t be asked to wash and put away dishes, but you can ask them to put used dishes in the sink.”
Important changes to house rules (Resource Center, Oct 20, 2026)

“Laundry: Guests shouldn’t be asked to remove sheets from the bed or start a load of laundry, but you can ask them to gather used towels.”
Important changes to house rules (Resource Center, Oct 20, 2026)

“Trash: Guests shouldn’t be asked to take garbage off-site, but you can ask them to separate their trash and recycling into designated indoor bins.”
Important changes to house rules (Resource Center, Oct 20, 2026)

“Utilities: Guests shouldn’t be asked to avoid using a listed amenity like air conditioning, but you can ask them to turn it off when they leave.”
Important changes to house rules (Resource Center, Oct 20, 2026)

“Restrict access to any feature that’s advertised as part of the listing. Any fees for an advertised part of the listing must be included in the price shown to guests at the time of booking. Hosts may include information about fees for optional add-ons, like breakfast service, in their requests.”
Reasonable house rules and requests (Help Center)

“Impose fines or other penalties on guests. AirCover provides protection for hosts in the rare event that their place or belongings are damaged by a guest during an Airbnb stay. If there is a risk a community association (such as an HOA or building security) or local government might impose a fine, hosts can provide notice to guests in the designated section of their listing.”
Reasonable house rules and requests (Help Center)

“When adding a request, remember that most guests want to avoid unexpected chores. Asking them to do things a cleaner should handle can negatively affect their stay and your reviews.”
Important changes to house rules (Resource Center, Oct 20, 2026)

Exceptions and local rules

“For example, it may be reasonable to ask guests to limit shower time due to local drought-related water restrictions, or to dispose of trash in an animal-proof container in bear country.”
Reasonable house rules and requests (Help Center)

“When you host a home with local rules—like homeowners association policies or local regulations—that could result in fines, you can add these details to your listing so guests understand expectations before booking.”
Add local rules to your home listing (Help Center)

Contracts, ID and other apps

“For example, hosts may not ask guests to sign separate contracts or solicit personal information such as a government ID, except where required by law and in other limited circumstances.”
Reasonable house rules and requests (Help Center)

Contracts are allowed only when one of these applies:

“Required by law or community association rules (ex: HOA or building security requirements)”
Limiting host-imposed contracts and other requirements (Help Center)

“Necessary to facilitate access to an optional amenity, such as a golf cart rental”
Limiting host-imposed contracts and other requirements (Help Center)

“Requested in connection with a monthly stay (28 nights or more)”
Limiting host-imposed contracts and other requirements (Help Center)

“Related to a stay at a Luxe listing”
Limiting host-imposed contracts and other requirements (Help Center)

“Note: Hosts may physically check a guest’s ID to verify identity in person at check-in if they disclose the requirement in the requests section of their listing; they may not, however, retain a digital or physical copy of the ID, except as outlined in the exceptions below.”
Limiting host-imposed contracts and other requirements (Help Center)

“With limited exceptions, hosts also may not require use of a third-party app or registration on another website to gain entry to a listing or access a critical amenity.”
Limiting host-imposed contracts and other requirements (Help Center)

“Ask guests to review an Airbnb stay or fill out a survey on a separate website, unless the listing is a hotel.”
Limiting host-imposed contracts and other requirements (Help Center)

What happens to requests that don't fit

“Requests that don’t follow the new policy will be highlighted in the Listing editor, so it’s clear what needs adjusting. We’ll also send you an email, provide tips for resolving any issues, and give you an opportunity to submit an appeal. Guests may see an alert on your listing, such as “includes cleaning requests,” if an issue goes unresolved.”
Important changes to house rules (Resource Center, Oct 20, 2026)

“If a violation persists, it may result in a notice on the listing page flagging the issue to guests, reduced listing visibility in search, or other action under our Terms of Service.”
Reasonable house rules and requests (Help Center)