Host Guides › Airbnb House Rules Template: Copy-and-Paste Rules
Airbnb House Rules Template: Copy-and-Paste Rules (With the Reason for Each)
Most house rules fail for one of two reasons. Either they read like a list of threats, so guests skim past them, or they're vague ("be respectful"), so nobody knows what you actually expect. Good house rules are short, specific and explained. A guest who understands why the hot tub cover has to go back on is far more likely to do it than one who's told "COVER THE HOT TUB!!"
This guide gives you a house rules template you can copy into your listing, your welcome book and a printed sign. It also explains how Airbnb's rule settings work, so you put each rule where it actually counts.
How Airbnb house rules work (and why placement matters)
Airbnb splits house rules into two kinds:
- Standard house rules are toggles and fields in your listing settings. According to Airbnb's ground rules for guests, they cover pets; events; smoking, vaping and e-cigarettes; quiet hours; check-in and checkout times; maximum number of guests; and commercial photography and filming.
- Additional rules are free text you write yourself for anything the standard list doesn't cover: parking, the hot tub, trash day, shoes, the fireplace.
The difference matters. Airbnb says any standard house rule you set can be enforced through Airbnb if you can't resolve an issue with the guest directly. For additional rules, Airbnb says it will support you in "taking the appropriate next steps." In practice, that means your most important rules (no parties, no smoking, guest limits, quiet hours) should live in the standard settings, not only in a paragraph of text.
Guests can see your house rules and checkout instructions before they book (Airbnb: A clear and simple checkout). That's a feature: a guest planning a 12-person birthday weekend should self-select out before booking, not after arriving.
The 5 principles of house rules guests actually follow
- Fewer is better. Ten clear rules beat thirty. If a rule has never been broken and wouldn't cost you money, cut it.
- Give the reason. "Quiet hours are 10 PM to 8 AM because our neighbors are year-round residents and the city enforces noise limits" works better than "No noise after 10."
- Be specific. "Maximum 4 guests, including children" is clear. "No large groups" isn't.
- Say what to do, not only what not to do. "Please smoke only outside, at the patio table, and use the ashtray there" gives the guest a way to comply.
- Keep the tone warm and the facts firm. You can be friendly and still say "This is a no-party home, and bookings for events will be cancelled."
Airbnb house rules template (copy and paste)
Copy the block below, delete the rules that don't apply, and fill in the brackets. The standard rules belong in your listing settings and in this text so the guest sees them in one place.
Welcome! A few house rules so everyone has a great stay
Check-in and checkout. Check-in is after [3:00 PM] and checkout is by [11:00 AM]. Our cleaner arrives right at checkout to get the home ready for the next guests, so we can't offer late checkout unless we've confirmed it with you in the app.
Guests. The home is booked for a maximum of [4] guests, including children. Only registered guests may stay overnight. Visitors are welcome until [9:00 PM] if you let us know in advance. Why: our insurance and local permit are based on this number.
No parties or events. This is a quiet residential home. Parties, events and gatherings beyond your registered group aren't permitted. Why: neighbors live here year-round, and the local rules for short-term rentals are strict.
Quiet hours: [10:00 PM to 8:00 AM]. Please keep voices and music low indoors and outside during these hours.
No smoking or vaping indoors. Smoking is allowed only at [the patio table on the back deck]. Please use the ashtray there. Why: smoke gets into fabrics and takes days to remove, which can mean cancelling the next guest's stay.
Pets. [No pets, sorry. A future guest may have allergies.] OR [Well-behaved dogs are welcome with approval. Please keep them off beds and furniture and pick up after them outside.]
Parking. Please park [in the driveway, one car behind the other]. Street parking is [not allowed overnight from November to March for snow plowing].
Trash and recycling. Trash goes in the [gray] bin and recycling in the [blue] bin, beside the garage. If your stay includes [Tuesday night], please roll both bins to the curb.
Hot tub. Please shower first, keep glass out of the hot tub area, and always replace and lock the cover. Why: the cover keeps the water clean and safe and stops children from getting in unsupervised.
Fireplace. Use only the [firewood/fire starters] provided. Keep the screen closed and never leave a fire unattended.
Damage happens. If something breaks or spills, just tell us. We'd much rather know now than find it later, and honest accidents are part of hosting.
Checkout. Before you go: load and start the dishwasher, put trash in the outside bins, turn off lights, and lock the door. That's it, and our cleaner handles the rest.
Thanks for treating our home like your own!
Which rules should go where
A house rule only works if the guest sees it at the right moment. Here's where each rule belongs:
| Rule | Listing settings (standard) | Additional rules text | Welcome book | Printed sign in the home |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guest maximum | Yes | Repeat briefly | Yes | No |
| No parties or events | Yes | Repeat with the reason | Yes | Optional, by the door |
| Quiet hours | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes, in living areas |
| Smoking and vaping | Yes | Where smoking is allowed | Yes | Yes, by exterior doors |
| Pets | Yes | Pet conditions | Yes | Optional |
| Check-in and checkout times | Yes | No | Yes | Checkout card |
| Parking | No | Yes | Yes, with a photo | Optional |
| Trash and recycling | No | Short version | Yes, with bin day | Yes, at the bins |
| Hot tub, pool, fireplace | No | Yes | Yes, full instructions | Yes, at the feature |
The welcome book is where rules get their full explanation. The listing is where they become enforceable. Signs catch the moment of temptation, like the smoker standing at the back door.
Rules that need extra care
Security devices. Airbnb's policy prohibits security cameras that monitor any indoor space, and requires you to disclose exterior cameras and noise-decibel monitors in your listing, with limits on where they can be (Airbnb: use of cameras and recording devices). Don't put a "smile, you're on camera" line in your house rules unless your listing discloses the device exactly as the policy requires.
Rules that may discriminate. Rules can't single out guests based on protected characteristics, and Airbnb's nondiscrimination policy applies to how you write and enforce them. Rules about behavior (noise, smoking, guest count) are fine. Rules about who a guest is are not.
Checkout chores. Airbnb's guidance is that guests expect an easy checkout without cleaning tasks, and guests can flag "excessive checkout tasks" in feedback (Airbnb). Keep checkout to a handful of quick steps. In California, a 2024 law (AB 2202) requires hosts to disclose any fee or penalty tied to checkout cleaning tasks before booking (California Legislative Information). Simplest approach everywhere: don't charge for skipped chores.
Local rules. Many cities set occupancy limits, quiet hours, parking rules or trash rules for short-term rentals. Your house rules should match your permit and local ordinance, not just your preference. Check your city or county's short-term rental page before you publish.
How to enforce house rules without wrecking reviews
- Send rules before arrival. Include a short "3 things to know" summary in your pre-arrival message: guest maximum, quiet hours, parking. Long lists don't get read in a message; three items do.
- Remind at the right moment. A small sign by the hot tub is more effective than a paragraph in a message sent five days earlier.
- Start with a friendly message. If a neighbor reports noise, a calm, specific message usually solves it: "Hi Sam, a neighbor mentioned music on the deck. Quiet hours start at 10, so could you bring the party inside and keep the volume low? Thanks so much."
- Document real violations. If a standard rule is broken (smoking, a party, extra guests), take dated photos and keep everything in the platform's messaging. That's what Airbnb Support will ask for.
- Rate honestly. Airbnb lets you rate guests on house rules in your review. Keep the written review factual and calm.
Turning the template into a printable house rules sign
For the in-home version, cut it down to six lines or fewer, use large type, and frame it near the main entrance:
- Max [4] guests · No parties or events
- Quiet hours [10 PM – 8 AM]
- No smoking or vaping indoors (patio OK)
- Trash: [gray bin] · Recycling: [blue bin]
- Hot tub cover on and locked after use
- Checkout by [11 AM]: dishwasher on, trash out, lights off, door locked
Pair the sign with your welcome book, which carries the reasons and the details.
Frequently asked questions
How many house rules should an Airbnb have?
There's no required number. Most hosts do well with the standard settings plus five to ten additional rules. Keep any rule that protects safety, neighbors or your next booking, and cut the rest.
Can Airbnb enforce my additional house rules?
Airbnb says standard house rules can be enforced through Airbnb if you can't resolve the issue directly. For additional rules, Airbnb says it will support you in taking appropriate next steps. Put your most important rules in the standard settings.
Can guests see my house rules before booking?
Yes. Airbnb shows house rules and checkout instructions to guests before they book, which helps the wrong guests self-select out.
Should I charge guests for breaking house rules?
Only through the platform's processes and only for real costs, such as documented damage or extra cleaning. Don't invent fines that aren't in your listing, and if you host in California, follow the disclosure rules for any checkout-task fees.
Get house rules that are already written
The Key & Kit Guest Welcome Book includes a full house rules page written with the reason behind each rule, plus a guest FAQ, arrival steps, a scan-to-join Wi-Fi QR card and a local guide, in Word, Google Docs and print-ready PDF.
Hosting with a cleaner? Grab our free one-page Apartment Turnover Card so the home matches what your rules promise.
This article is general information, not legal advice. Platform policies and local laws change, so check the current Airbnb policies linked above and your local short-term rental rules.