What zoning rules apply to STRs in Hershey?

STRs are strictly prohibited in all R-1, R-2, and R-3 residential zoning districts.

What should Hershey hosts know about one off-street parking space is?

One off-street parking space is required per bedroom used for the STR.

What are the key requirements for Hershey hosts?

Permits must be renewed annually, and properties are subject to re-inspection.

What are the key requirements for Hershey hosts?

The 5% County Hotel Tax is separate from the 6% State Sales Tax; both must be remitted.

Hershey

Prohibited

PennsylvaniaUpdated Apr 18, 2026

Gold-standard verification1% sourced

Cross-referenced against 0 official sources — municipal codes, planning-department pages, and government registries.

Verified Feb 9, 2026Sources 0

Summary

Plain-english overview

Short-term rentals (STRs) in Hershey are regulated by Derry Township and are only permitted in specific commercial and mixed-use zoning districts, with residential zones strictly prohibited.

Restriction level

Severity 100

Classification

Prohibited

100

Severity

Why this classification

Banned in all/most residential zones
Standard permit fee: $250
Tenants cannot host
Permit required
Reporting required
No night cap
No primary residence requirement

In plain English

What this means for you

If you want to run an Airbnb in Hershey, you must be located in a commercial or village core zone; most residential neighborhoods do not allow STRs. You are required to obtain a zoning permit, pass a safety inspection, and pay an annual registration fee to Derry Township.

At a glance

Key numbers

Permit requiredYes

Night limitNone

Primary residenceNot required

Total tax rate0.1%

Permit fee$250

Processing time2-4 weeks

4 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps

1STRs are strictly prohibited in all R-1, R-2, and R-3 residential zoning districts.
2One off-street parking space is required per bedroom used for the STR.
3Permits must be renewed annually, and properties are subject to re-inspection.
4The 5% County Hotel Tax is separate from the 6% State Sales Tax; both must be remitted.

Regulation details

Sourced from official code

Eligibility7 rules

Hershey: Your HOA can prohibit short-term rentals even if the city allows them. Check your CC&Rs before applying.
Hershey: STRs are strictly prohibited in all R-1, R-2, and R-3 residential zoning districts.
Hershey prohibits STRs in the following property types: Recreational Vehicles, Tents, Unfinished Basements.

Requirements12 rules

Hershey: A fire inspection may be required before you can operate. Schedule early as this can delay your start date.
Hershey requires STR registration. The permit is called "Short-Term Rental Zoning Permit". Apply through Derry Township Community Development Department. Processing time: 2-4 weeks. Renewal is required.
Hershey: You must display your permit/registration number on your Airbnb listing.

Application process8 rules

Hershey STR permit - Step 2: Register for Dauphin County Hotel Tax. Register your rental with the Dauphin County Treasurer's Office to obtain a tax account number. Required documents: Business Information. Time: 1 week.

Fees & costs1 rule

Hershey charges a registration fee of $250 (annual).

Taxes3 rules

Hershey: The 5% County Hotel Tax is separate from the 6% State Sales Tax; both must be remitted.
Pennsylvania has a state sales tax of 0.06% that applies to STR rentals.
Dauphin charges a Dauphin County Hotel Tax of 0.05%. Platforms like Airbnb collect and remit this tax.

Limits & restrictions4 rules

Hershey occupancy calculation: 2 persons per bedroom, up to a maximum of 10 persons total.. Count your bedrooms to determine your max guest limit.
Hershey limits STRs to a maximum of 10 guests. Formula: 2 persons per bedroom, up to a maximum of 10 persons total.
Hershey enforces quiet hours: 10pm-7am.
Hershey limits stays to a maximum of 30 nights.

Safety requirements1 rule

Hershey requires the following safety measures for STRs: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher, fire inspection, posted maximum occupancy, posted emergency contact, Interconnected smoke alarms, Egress windows in all sleeping rooms, Visible house numbers.

Penalties2 rules

Hershey: Repeated violations can result in permanent permit revocation. You would lose the ability to operate any STR.
Hershey enforces the following penalties for STR violations: First offense: $600 per day. Second offense: Increased fines and possible legal action. Third offense: Permit revocation. Daily fine: 600. Permit may be revoked for violations.

Exemptions2 rules

Hershey exempts the following from STR regulations: long-term rentals (30+ days), extended stays.
Hershey: Rentals of 30+ days are generally NOT considered short-term rentals and may be exempt from STR regulations (but may have other requirements).

How to get permitted

Step-by-step guide for Hershey

0/4

steps completed

Step 1

Verify Zoning Eligibility

Consult the Derry Township Zoning Map to ensure your property is located within the VC, DC, GC, or PRC districts. Properties in Residential districts (R-1, R-2, R-3) are ineligible.

1 dayFree

Official resource

Step 2

Register for Dauphin County Hotel Tax

1 weekFree

Documents needed

Business Information

Official resource

Step 3

Submit Zoning Permit Application

File the Short-Term Rental Zoning Permit application with the Community Development department, including a floor plan and site plan showing required parking spaces.

2 weeks$250

Documents needed

Floor Plan
Site Plan
Insurance Certificate

Official resource

Step 4

Pass Safety Inspection

Schedule and pass a code compliance inspection to ensure smoke detectors, CO detectors, and fire extinguishers meet township safety standards.

1 weekFree

Frequently asked questions

4 answered

Disclaimer

Regulatory information is AI-researched from public city/county codes for educational purposes. Details may be outdated or incomplete. Always verify requirements directly with your city/county planning department before operating a short-term rental.

Researched & verified by Learn STR at GoStudioM

Hershey

Prohibited

PennsylvaniaUpdated Apr 18, 2026

Gold-standard verification1% sourced

Cross-referenced against 0 official sources — municipal codes, planning-department pages, and government registries.

Verified Feb 9, 2026Sources 0

Summary

Plain-english overview

Short-term rentals (STRs) in Hershey are regulated by Derry Township and are only permitted in specific commercial and mixed-use zoning districts, with residential zones strictly prohibited.

Restriction level

Severity 100

Classification

Prohibited

100

Severity

Why this classification

Banned in all/most residential zones
Standard permit fee: $250
Tenants cannot host
Permit required
Reporting required
No night cap
No primary residence requirement

In plain English

What this means for you

At a glance

Key numbers

Permit requiredYes

Night limitNone

Primary residenceNot required

Total tax rate0.1%

Permit fee$250

Processing time2-4 weeks

4 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps

1STRs are strictly prohibited in all R-1, R-2, and R-3 residential zoning districts.
2One off-street parking space is required per bedroom used for the STR.
3Permits must be renewed annually, and properties are subject to re-inspection.
4The 5% County Hotel Tax is separate from the 6% State Sales Tax; both must be remitted.

Regulation details

Sourced from official code

Eligibility7 rules

Hershey: Your HOA can prohibit short-term rentals even if the city allows them. Check your CC&Rs before applying.
Hershey: STRs are strictly prohibited in all R-1, R-2, and R-3 residential zoning districts.
Hershey prohibits STRs in the following property types: Recreational Vehicles, Tents, Unfinished Basements.

Requirements12 rules

Hershey: A fire inspection may be required before you can operate. Schedule early as this can delay your start date.
Hershey requires STR registration. The permit is called "Short-Term Rental Zoning Permit". Apply through Derry Township Community Development Department. Processing time: 2-4 weeks. Renewal is required.
Hershey: You must display your permit/registration number on your Airbnb listing.

Application process8 rules

Hershey STR permit - Step 2: Register for Dauphin County Hotel Tax. Register your rental with the Dauphin County Treasurer's Office to obtain a tax account number. Required documents: Business Information. Time: 1 week.

Fees & costs1 rule

Hershey charges a registration fee of $250 (annual).

Taxes3 rules

Hershey: The 5% County Hotel Tax is separate from the 6% State Sales Tax; both must be remitted.
Pennsylvania has a state sales tax of 0.06% that applies to STR rentals.
Dauphin charges a Dauphin County Hotel Tax of 0.05%. Platforms like Airbnb collect and remit this tax.

Limits & restrictions4 rules

Hershey occupancy calculation: 2 persons per bedroom, up to a maximum of 10 persons total.. Count your bedrooms to determine your max guest limit.
Hershey limits STRs to a maximum of 10 guests. Formula: 2 persons per bedroom, up to a maximum of 10 persons total.
Hershey enforces quiet hours: 10pm-7am.
Hershey limits stays to a maximum of 30 nights.

Safety requirements1 rule

Hershey requires the following safety measures for STRs: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher, fire inspection, posted maximum occupancy, posted emergency contact, Interconnected smoke alarms, Egress windows in all sleeping rooms, Visible house numbers.

Penalties2 rules

Hershey: Repeated violations can result in permanent permit revocation. You would lose the ability to operate any STR.
Hershey enforces the following penalties for STR violations: First offense: $600 per day. Second offense: Increased fines and possible legal action. Third offense: Permit revocation. Daily fine: 600. Permit may be revoked for violations.

Exemptions2 rules

Hershey exempts the following from STR regulations: long-term rentals (30+ days), extended stays.
Hershey: Rentals of 30+ days are generally NOT considered short-term rentals and may be exempt from STR regulations (but may have other requirements).

How to get permitted

Step-by-step guide for Hershey

0/4

steps completed

Step 1

Verify Zoning Eligibility

Consult the Derry Township Zoning Map to ensure your property is located within the VC, DC, GC, or PRC districts. Properties in Residential districts (R-1, R-2, R-3) are ineligible.

1 dayFree

Official resource

Step 2

Register for Dauphin County Hotel Tax

1 weekFree

Documents needed

Business Information

Official resource

Step 3

Submit Zoning Permit Application

File the Short-Term Rental Zoning Permit application with the Community Development department, including a floor plan and site plan showing required parking spaces.

2 weeks$250

Documents needed

Floor Plan
Site Plan
Insurance Certificate

Official resource

Step 4

Pass Safety Inspection

Schedule and pass a code compliance inspection to ensure smoke detectors, CO detectors, and fire extinguishers meet township safety standards.

1 weekFree

Frequently asked questions

4 answered

Disclaimer

Researched & verified by Learn STR at GoStudioM

Summary

Restriction level

Why this classification

In plain English

At a glance

4 things hosts often miss

Regulation details

How to get permitted

Verify Zoning Eligibility

Register for Dauphin County Hotel Tax

Submit Zoning Permit Application

Pass Safety Inspection

Frequently asked questions

1Do I need a permit for short-term rentals in Hershey?

2What is the TOT tax rate in Hershey?

3Are there specific zoning restrictions for STRs in Hershey?

4What are the penalties for non-compliance in Hershey?

Disclaimer

Summary

Restriction level

Why this classification

In plain English

At a glance

4 things hosts often miss

Regulation details

How to get permitted

Verify Zoning Eligibility

Register for Dauphin County Hotel Tax

Submit Zoning Permit Application

Pass Safety Inspection

Frequently asked questions

1Do I need a permit for short-term rentals in Hershey?

2What is the TOT tax rate in Hershey?

3Are there specific zoning restrictions for STRs in Hershey?

4What are the penalties for non-compliance in Hershey?

Disclaimer