by Kyle & Jennifer Coover 
The ultimate guide to short-term rentals in the Poconos.
Discover where Airbnb and short-term rentals are allowed, restricted, or banned.
Updated for 2025.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW STR-FRIENDLY LISTINGS
If you’re considering buying a vacation rental property in the Pocono Mountains, it’s essential to understand where short-term rentals (STRs) are fully permitted, allowed with restrictions, or outright prohibited. HOA rules, zoning laws, and township ordinances vary significantly, so due diligence is a must.
Below is a comprehensive and updated breakdown of STR status by community in the Poconos as of June 2025.
✅ STR-Friendly Communities (Short-Term Rentals Allowed)
These communities allow STRs and have relatively clear procedures for permitting and registration. Most require registration with the HOA and/or township, with fees and guest management rules.
- Arrowhead Lake
- Bear Creek Lakes
- Big Bass Lake (Clifton Township only)
- Big Boulder & Jack Frost
- Blue Mountain Lake Estates
- Brier Crest Woods
- Brier Hill North
- Camelot Forest
- Castle Rock Acres
- Eagle Lake
- Emerald Lakes (except Pocono Township section)
- The Escape
- Evergreen Estates (Middle Smithfield Township)
- Greenwood Acres
- Harmony Ridge
- Henryville Acres
- Indian Mountain Lake (Penn Forest and Tunkhannock Townships)
- Lake Harmony Estates
- Locust Lake Village
- Northridge at Camelback
- Northslope 2 at Shawnee
- Penn Estates (Stroud Township section)
- Penn Lake Park (owner-occupied only)
- Pinecrest Lake and Country Club
- Pocono Country Place
- Pocono Farms
- Pocono Farms East
- Pocono Forested Acres
- Pocono Outpost
- Riverside Estates
- Rock Ledge Manor Estates
- Saw Creek Estates (Middle Smithfield section)
- Snow Ridge Village
- Split Rock
- Stillwater Estates
- Stillwater Lakes Civic Association
- Tunkhannock Trails
- Village at Camelback
- White Haven Poconos
⚠️ STR Allowed With Restrictions
These communities permit STRs with limitations — such as licensing caps, permit restrictions, rental duration minimums, or grandfathered allowances.
- Big Bass Lake (Lehigh and Covington Townships)
- Buck Hill Falls (30-day minimum)
- Eagle Rock Resort (through management only)
- Glen at Tamiment (only grandfathered licenses)
- High Country Estates
- Indian Rocks (license cap, increased fees)
- Kahkout Mountain
- Lake Naomi and Timber Trails (limited rentals per year)
- Lakeview Estates (2-week minimum, registration required)
- Monroe Lakes (30-day minimum)
- Pocono Ranch Lands (no new licenses in Lehman Township)
- Reserve at Pond Creek
- The Hideout (STR permitted after court ruling)
- Tink Wig Mountain Lake Forest (confirm HOA policy)
- Top of the Mountain Estates (Coolbaugh – prohibited by HOA)
- Wallenpaupack Lake Estates (2-year ownership required)
- Winona Lakes (Middle Smithfield allows; Lehman prohibits)
- Woodland Springs
- Rainbow Run
❌ STR Not Allowed (Prohibited)
These communities either explicitly ban STRs through HOA covenants, deed restrictions, or fall under township zoning that does not permit transient uses.
- Barton Glen
- Beltzville Lake Estates
- Birches III
- Birches West
- Birchwood Lakes
- Cobble Creek Estates
- Cobbs Lake Preserve
- Conashaugh Lakes
- Country Club of the Poconos
- Crescent Lake
- Eagle Ridge
- El Do Lake
- Estates at Great Bear
- Evergreen Lake Estates
- Fawn Acres
- Fawn Lake Forest
- Fawn Ridge Estates
- Forest Glen
- Glen Onoko Estates
- Glenbrook Estates
- Gold Key Lake Estates
- Grubers Lake
- Hallowood Acres
- Hamlet
- Hemlock Farms
- Hidden Lake Estates
- Holiday Pocono
- Hickory Hills
- Hickory Run Forest (for homes purchased after August 22, 2022)
- Keswick Pointe
- Kingswood Lake Estates
- Knoll Acres II
- Lake Adventure
- Lake in the Clouds
- Lake of the Pines
- Lake Valhalla
- Lake Wallenpaupack Estates
- Lake Watawga
- Leisure Lands
- Maeve Manor
- Manzanedo Rod and Gun Club
- Marty Axman
- Meadow Run Mountain Lake
- Mountaintop Estates
- Mountain View Village
- Mushroom Farms
- Northpark Estates
- Northslope 1 and 3 at Shawnee
- Oakdale at Shawnee Valley
- Oakridge Estates
- Old Farm Estates
- Paupackan Lake Estates
- Penn Forest Streams
- Pine Creek Estates
- Pine Grove Acres
- Pine Hill Estates
- Pine Ridge
- Pleasant Valley Estates
- Pleasant Valley West
- Pleasant View Lake
- Pocono Haven
- Pocono Heights
- Pocono Highland Estates
- Pocono Manor
- Pocono Mountain Woodland Lakes
- Pocono Springs Estates
- Robin Hood Lakes
- Rossland Lake
- Rustic Acres
- Shawnee Estates
- Shawnee Valley
- Sierra View
- Ski Haven Lake Estates
- Smithfield Village
- Snow Hill Falls
- Spring Lake Estates
- Stonerow Estates
- Stonecrest Park Club
- Summit Pointe
- Sunrise Ridge
- Sunrise Lake
- Tanglwood Lakes
- Tanglwood North
- Thornhurst Country Club Estates
- Timber Hill
- Top of the Mountain Estates (Coolbaugh)
- Twin Lake Estates
- Valley View Estates
- Wagner Forest Park
- Walker Lake
- Whispering Glen
- White Heron Lake
- Whitney Lake
- Wild Acres
- Wilderness Acres
- Wildwood Manor Estates
- Winona Lakes (Lehman Township section)
- Woodloch Springs
- The Woodlands at Cranberry
Please note: Some communities span multiple townships, which may affect their STR eligibility. Pennsylvania municipalities can regulate STRs under zoning law. This authority was upheld in the landmark 2019 PA Supreme Court decision Slice of Life, LLC v. Hamilton Township Zoning Hearing Board, which affirmed that municipalities can exclude short-term lodging in residential zones.
Advice for STR Buyers
Before you invest in a property intended for STR, verify both municipal zoning and HOA regulations. Always obtain confirmation from the local government and association, and keep in mind that laws may change.
Ready to find STR-approved homes?
Contact our team today and we’ll help you navigate the best investment opportunities in the Pocono Mountains.
Call or text us at 570.872.7123
Or email: Kyle@theKTCteam.com
