Airbnb's new house rules policy applies to bookings made from November 20, 2026. Here's exactly how we set up house rules across the 150+ homes we co-host. Copy anything you like. It's free.
House rules used to be one big block of text, as long as you wanted. Now each section has its own purpose and limit. Some things you used to write will get flagged, and if you leave them, Airbnb may show guests a notice and lower your listing in search.
| Section | Limit | What goes there |
|---|---|---|
| 1 · Rule togglesButtons under House rules | No writing | Number of guests, pets, smoking, events, quiet hours, commercial photography, check-in and checkout times |
| 2 · Requests during the stay | 600 characters | Rules the toggles don't cover, plus prices for optional add-ons |
| 3 · Requests before checkout | 400 characters | A few small things guests do before they leave |
| 4 · Local rulesRequests → Add details | — | Only rules your HOA or local government fines the owner for |
"$500 fine for smoking inside" gets flagged with Fines aren't allowed. Honestly, those fines rarely got collected anyway — they were mostly a warning. If there's real damage or extra cleaning, document it and file a claim through Airbnb.
"Stay at your own risk" waivers, separate agreements, or asking guests to send a photo of their ID. The editor flags these with Contracts aren't allowed.
Anything a cleaner would normally do: taking trash cans to the curb on trash day, taking trash to the outside bin, washing dishes, stripping beds, starting the laundry — even starting the dishwasher got flagged when we tried.
We wondered too: if it doesn't fit, can it go in the listing description? No. Rules can only live in the house rules section — not the description, and not added later by message or a sign in the home.
Source: Airbnb Help Center — Reasonable house rules and requests · Host-imposed contracts · Local rules
No writing here. If a toggle covers it, don't repeat it in Section 2 — save your characters.
Tick what fits your home. The core rules work for every home; add the rest only if you need them. The counter shows where you are against the 600-character limit.
If your pricing settings have a place for it — pet fee, extra guest fee — set it there. For optional add-ons with no field, one short line in Section 2 is enough. We also repeat them in Other things to note in the listing description and in the first message after booking.
400 characters is plenty, because there isn't much you can ask anymore. Checkout day is stressful for guests — flights to catch, kids to pack up.
Only if your HOA or local government fines the owner. Say what the rule is, who set it, what the guest needs to do, and the fine.
Not in house rules. Set extra guest and pet fees in pricing. For real damage or extra cleaning, document it and file a claim through Airbnb.
You can ask them to put trash in the indoor trash cans. Taking it to the curb or an outside bin is treated as a chore. Airbnb says every home is different and exceptions can apply — for example, a cabin where wildlife means trash has to go in an outdoor bear-proof bin.
Delete fines and waivers first — in our old rules they took up almost 40% of the space. Move fees to pricing. Facts about the home (no AC, steep driveway, spotty Wi-Fi) aren't rules; put them in the description. Then cut whatever wouldn't cause damage or a complaint if broken.
For bookings made from November 20, 2026. Existing hosts are already seeing prompts in the listing editor.
We co-host 150+ homes on the owners' own Airbnb accounts — house rules, pricing, 24/7 guest messages and claims.