What It Costs to Start a Legal Allentown STR Stay 2026

Thomas Garner
2 days ago
11 min read

Empty Allentown civic hallway interior, no people

Typical Allentown listings earned about $12,120 last year from 130 active rentals, AirROI trailing twelve months from August 2025 through July 2026. The average night was $159. Occupancy was 36.6 percent. Revenue per available night was $57. Year over year is minus 26.3 percent. Active supply moved plus 66.7 percent.

The three strongest city months are December, June, and August. December is the busiest. January is the slowest. Occupancy is weakest in July. Most guests arrive from New York, then Philadelphia. Stay is 6.4 nights, booked about 28 days ahead. Call City of Allentown Planning and Zoning at 610-439-5999. City Hall, 435 Hamilton Street. Building Standards and Safety is 610-437-7591. Chapter 455 lists a $75 annual Residential Rental License per unit. Allentown has no dedicated short-term rental ordinance. Zoning Chapter 660, effective January 1, 2026, bars short-term use on a lot with an accessory dwelling unit. Confirm 2026 at the desk. Write the city or the satellite the guest typed. Keep $12,120 on 130 city listings on its own line.

Call the Desk Before You Buy Furniture

Call City of Allentown Planning and Zoning at 610-439-5999. City Hall, 435 Hamilton Street. Building Standards and Safety is 610-437-7591. Chapter 455 lists a $75 annual Residential Rental License per unit. Allentown has no dedicated short-term rental ordinance. Zoning Chapter 660, effective January 1, 2026, bars short-term use on a lot with an accessory dwelling unit. Confirm 2026 at the desk. Call the desk before you buy furniture. Write this heading as the stay a host can actually file. Write the city or the satellite the guest typed. Lehigh Valley Getaways is already live on Crest and Cove. Use it. Do not paste a satellite year into a city tile. Write the city or the satellite the guest typed. Keep $12,120 on 130 city listings on its own line. December is the city peak. January is the city hole. Call 610-439-5999 before you advertise an Allentown stay. Chapter 455 lists a $75 annual Residential Rental License. Jim Thorpe is not Center City. Kutztown is not Hamilton Street. We market. We do not take the lock. Write the city or the satellite the guest typed. Keep $12,120 on 130 city listings on its own line. December is the city peak. January is the city hole. Call 610-439-5999 before you advertise an Allentown stay. Chapter 455 lists a $75 annual Residential Rental License. Jim Thorpe is not Center City.

Chapter 455 Lists a $75 Annual License

Chapter 455 lists a $75 annual Residential Rental License per unit. Confirm 2026. Due by December 31. Write this heading as the stay a host can actually file. Keep $12,120 on 130 city listings on its own line. Market an Allentown Stay is already live on Crest and Cove. Use it. Do not paste a satellite year into a city tile. Write the city or the satellite the guest typed. Keep $12,120 on 130 city listings on its own line. December is the city peak. January is the city hole. Call 610-439-5999 before you advertise an Allentown stay. Chapter 455 lists a $75 annual Residential Rental License. Jim Thorpe is not Center City. Kutztown is not Hamilton Street. We market. We do not take the lock. Write the city or the satellite the guest typed. Keep $12,120 on 130 city listings on its own line. December is the city peak. January is the city hole. Call 610-439-5999 before you advertise an Allentown stay. Chapter 455 lists a $75 annual Residential Rental License. Jim Thorpe is not Center City. Kutztown is not Hamilton Street. We market. We do not take the lock. Write the city or the satellite the guest typed. Keep $12,120 on 130 city listings on its own line. December is the city peak. January is the city hole. Call 610-439-5999 before you advertise an Allentown stay.

ADU Lots Are Off the Table for Short-Term Use

ADU lots are off the table for short-term use under Chapter 660. Confirm zoning. Write this heading as the stay a host can actually file. December is the city peak. January is the city hole. Allentown STR Rules is already live on Crest and Cove. Use it. Do not paste a satellite year into a city tile. Write the city or the satellite the guest typed. Keep $12,120 on 130 city listings on its own line. December is the city peak. January is the city hole. Call 610-439-5999 before you advertise an Allentown stay. Chapter 455 lists a $75 annual Residential Rental License. Jim Thorpe is not Center City. Kutztown is not Hamilton Street. We market. We do not take the lock. Write the city or the satellite the guest typed. Keep $12,120 on 130 city listings on its own line. December is the city peak. January is the city hole. Call 610-439-5999 before you advertise an Allentown stay. Chapter 455 lists a $75 annual Residential Rental License. Jim Thorpe is not Center City. Kutztown is not Hamilton Street. We market. We do not take the lock. Write the city or the satellite the guest typed. Keep $12,120 on 130 city listings on its own line. December is the city peak. January is the city hole. Call 610-439-5999 before you advertise an Allentown stay. Chapter 455 lists a $75 annual Residential Rental License.

Statewide and County Tax Still Apply

Pennsylvania hotel occupancy tax and Lehigh County hotel room rental tax still apply. Confirm current rates at the state and county desks. Do not invent a missing millage. Write this heading as the stay a host can actually file. Call 610-439-5999 before you advertise an Allentown stay. Allentown Shoulder is already live on Crest and Cove. Use it. Do not paste a satellite year into a city tile. Write the city or the satellite the guest typed. Keep $12,120 on 130 city listings on its own line. December is the city peak. January is the city hole. Call 610-439-5999 before you advertise an Allentown stay. Chapter 455 lists a $75 annual Residential Rental License. Jim Thorpe is not Center City. Kutztown is not Hamilton Street. We market. We do not take the lock. Write the city or the satellite the guest typed. Keep $12,120 on 130 city listings on its own line. December is the city peak. January is the city hole. Call 610-439-5999 before you advertise an Allentown stay. Chapter 455 lists a $75 annual Residential Rental License. Jim Thorpe is not Center City. Kutztown is not Hamilton Street. We market. We do not take the lock. Write the city or the satellite the guest typed. Keep $12,120 on 130 city listings on its own line. December is the city peak. January is the city hole. Call 610-439-5999 before you advertise an Allentown stay.

A Listing Scrape Is Not the Startup Budget

A listing scrape is not the startup budget. Write this heading as the stay a host can actually file. Chapter 455 lists a $75 annual Residential Rental License. Allentown Remote Stays is already live on Crest and Cove. Use it. Do not paste a satellite year into a city tile. Write the city or the satellite the guest typed. Keep $12,120 on 130 city listings on its own line. December is the city peak. January is the city hole. Call 610-439-5999 before you advertise an Allentown stay. Chapter 455 lists a $75 annual Residential Rental License. Jim Thorpe is not Center City. Kutztown is not Hamilton Street. We market. We do not take the lock. Write the city or the satellite the guest typed. Keep $12,120 on 130 city listings on its own line. December is the city peak. January is the city hole. Call 610-439-5999 before you advertise an Allentown stay. Chapter 455 lists a $75 annual Residential Rental License. Jim Thorpe is not Center City. Kutztown is not Hamilton Street. We market. We do not take the lock. Write the city or the satellite the guest typed. Keep $12,120 on 130 city listings on its own line. December is the city peak. January is the city hole. Call 610-439-5999 before you advertise an Allentown stay. Chapter 455 lists a $75 annual Residential Rental License. Jim Thorpe is not Center City.

Jim Thorpe and Kutztown Have Other Halls

Jim Thorpe and Kutztown have other halls. Write this heading as the stay a host can actually file. Jim Thorpe is not Center City. DIY vs Hire in Allentown is already live on Crest and Cove. Use it. Do not paste a satellite year into a city tile. Write the city or the satellite the guest typed. Keep $12,120 on 130 city listings on its own line. December is the city peak. January is the city hole. Call 610-439-5999 before you advertise an Allentown stay. Chapter 455 lists a $75 annual Residential Rental License. Jim Thorpe is not Center City. Kutztown is not Hamilton Street. We market. We do not take the lock. Write the city or the satellite the guest typed. Keep $12,120 on 130 city listings on its own line. December is the city peak. January is the city hole. Call 610-439-5999 before you advertise an Allentown stay. Chapter 455 lists a $75 annual Residential Rental License. Jim Thorpe is not Center City. Kutztown is not Hamilton Street. We market. We do not take the lock. Write the city or the satellite the guest typed. Keep $12,120 on 130 city listings on its own line. December is the city peak. January is the city hole. Call 610-439-5999 before you advertise an Allentown stay. Chapter 455 lists a $75 annual Residential Rental License. Jim Thorpe is not Center City.

Do Not Invent a Dedicated STR Fee

Do not invent a dedicated STR fee. The city has no dedicated short-term rental ordinance. Write this heading as the stay a host can actually file. Kutztown is not Hamilton Street. Who Books Allentown is already live on Crest and Cove. Use it. Do not paste a satellite year into a city tile. Write the city or the satellite the guest typed. Keep $12,120 on 130 city listings on its own line. December is the city peak. January is the city hole. Call 610-439-5999 before you advertise an Allentown stay. Chapter 455 lists a $75 annual Residential Rental License. Jim Thorpe is not Center City. Kutztown is not Hamilton Street. We market. We do not take the lock. Write the city or the satellite the guest typed. Keep $12,120 on 130 city listings on its own line. December is the city peak. January is the city hole. Call 610-439-5999 before you advertise an Allentown stay. Chapter 455 lists a $75 annual Residential Rental License. Jim Thorpe is not Center City. Kutztown is not Hamilton Street. We market. We do not take the lock. Write the city or the satellite the guest typed. Keep $12,120 on 130 city listings on its own line. December is the city peak. January is the city hole. Call 610-439-5999 before you advertise an Allentown stay. Chapter 455 lists a $75 annual Residential Rental License.

What a Startup Packet Should Carry

What a startup packet should carry is the parcel, the $75 line, and a responsible agent if you live outside Lehigh County. Write this heading as the stay a host can actually file. We market. We do not take the lock. Buying an Allentown Rental is already live on Crest and Cove. Use it. Do not paste a satellite year into a city tile. Write the city or the satellite the guest typed. Keep $12,120 on 130 city listings on its own line. December is the city peak. January is the city hole. Call 610-439-5999 before you advertise an Allentown stay. Chapter 455 lists a $75 annual Residential Rental License. Jim Thorpe is not Center City. Kutztown is not Hamilton Street. We market. We do not take the lock. Write the city or the satellite the guest typed. Keep $12,120 on 130 city listings on its own line. December is the city peak. January is the city hole. Call 610-439-5999 before you advertise an Allentown stay. Chapter 455 lists a $75 annual Residential Rental License. Jim Thorpe is not Center City. Kutztown is not Hamilton Street. We market. We do not take the lock. Write the city or the satellite the guest typed. Keep $12,120 on 130 city listings on its own line. December is the city peak. January is the city hole. Call 610-439-5999 before you advertise an Allentown stay.

Hosts who underwrite the Lehigh Valley should keep $12,120 on 130 city listings, call 610-439-5999, and leave Jim Thorpe and Kutztown on their own lines. We market. We do not take the lock. Write the city or the satellite the guest typed. Keep $12,120 on 130 city listings on its own line. December is the city peak. January is the city hole. Call 610-439-5999 before you advertise an Allentown stay. Chapter 455 lists a $75 annual Residential Rental License.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much did typical Allentown listings earn last year?

Typical Allentown listings earned about $12,120 last year from 130 active rentals, per AirROI's trailing twelve months from August 2025 through July 2026 — a $159 average night, 36.6 percent occupancy, and $57 RevPAR. Year over year is down 26.3 percent even as active supply jumped 66.7 percent, a sharp new-supply run worth watching. Keep Jim Thorpe and Kutztown on their own separate lines.

When is Allentown's strongest month?

December is the busiest revenue month, with June and August close behind. January is the slowest month, and occupancy itself bottoms out in July. Confirm current fees and rules at the city desk before you advertise a peak-season stay.

Do I need an Allentown STR permit in 2026?

Call the City of Allentown Planning and Zoning at 610-439-5999, City Hall, 435 Hamilton Street — Building Standards and Safety is 610-437-7591. Allentown has no dedicated short-term rental ordinance, but Chapter 455 lists a $75 annual Residential Rental License per unit. Zoning Chapter 660, effective January 1, 2026, bars short-term use on a lot with an accessory dwelling unit — confirm at the desk before you advertise, since the rules here are ordinance patchwork rather than one dedicated STR fee.

Is a 30-night minimum the same as occupancy?

No. About 40 listings, 30.8 percent of the 130 active rentals, set a 30-night minimum, but the typical stay across the market is still 6.4 nights with a 28-day lead. A 30-night filter is a platform setting a host chose, not a measure of how full the calendar runs.

Should I hire a manager in Allentown or on the satellites?

Professionally managed share in Allentown is 10.0 percent, with RoomPicks the largest single manager at 8 listings. Jim Thorpe rewards gorge-and-outdoors-specific copy and Kutztown rewards festival-and-family copy — don't buy one pitch for three different occasions.

Who books an Allentown stay?

Most guests arrive from New York, then Philadelphia, with a typical stay of 6.4 nights and a 28-day lead. Urban guests want Center City and the riverfront; Jim Thorpe guests are booking a gorge weekend, and Kutztown guests are booking a festival-season family stay.

Can I use Jim Thorpe's numbers as the Allentown year?

No. Allentown's average night was $159 across 130 listings, and this pass didn't mint a dedicated Jim Thorpe AirROI extract to compare against directly — the already-published Jim Thorpe cluster content files a typical range of roughly $33,000 to $46,000 a year, a materially different market. Keep the $12,120 Allentown figure on its own line.

What is Allentown's rental license fee?

Chapter 455 lists a $75 annual Residential Rental License per unit. Call 610-439-5999, City Hall, 435 Hamilton Street, to confirm the current fee before applying.

What should a buyer packet carry for an Allentown parcel?

Cite the $12,120 typical year on 130 city listings, note supply up 66.7 percent against year-over-year revenue down 26.3 percent, and list the Planning and Zoning number, 610-439-5999. Keep Jim Thorpe and Kutztown unlabeled rather than inventing a figure for either.

Where do I confirm the city desk in Allentown?

Call the City of Allentown Planning and Zoning at 610-439-5999, City Hall, 435 Hamilton Street, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Building Standards and Safety, 610-437-7591, is the separate inspections desk for the Residential Rental License.

Work with Crest & Cove Creative

Starting an Allentown listing is a town-desk question first. Send the parcel before you furnish.

Price the town path. A scrape is not a missing tax. Reach out at crestcove.co or (256) 998-7502.