City Watch
Short-term rental rules in Bethany Beach, DE
How Bethany Beach regulates short-term rentals: the rules that apply, their sources, and pending changes.
Short-term rentals here are subject to registration, a lodging tax, or a small number of operating rules.
- Town levies a 7% rental tax on gross receipts reaching STR stays
- General annual rental/business license ($100/yr) for every rental unit, not STR-specific
- Zoning: rental of standard dwelling units permitted in all zones
- No STR-specific ordinance, cap, residency or minimum-stay rule found in the code
Based on: Code Ch. 102 Business Licensing (Ord. No. 63, 1973; rev. Ord. No. 238, 1990; am. Ord. 458, 2010; Ord. 444, 2009); Ch.
Summary of the rule
The Town of Bethany Beach Rental Tax Rate on residential and commercial space is 7% of gross receipts.
Last reviewed Oct 18, 2026 · Sources · Report an error
Pending legislation
Monitoring Bethany Beach · system last checked Oct 25, 2026
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A city permit is not the whole picture — HOA, condominium, deed, or lease rules may be stricter.
City Watch provides good-faith summaries of publicly available information as of the review date shown. Rules, enforcement, and permit availability can change, and summaries may contain errors or omissions. Ratings describe the general regulatory environment; they do not establish whether a particular property or stay is permitted. This is general information, not legal advice. Before buying, listing, or hosting, verify applicable requirements with the responsible authorities and review any HOA, condominium, deed, or lease restrictions.