Good Airbnb house rules protect the home without making a guest feel as though they have arrived at a courtroom. The best rules are short, specific, visible before booking, and written around real risks at your property.
Airbnb's standard house-rule categories cover pets, events, smoking, quiet hours, check-in and checkout times, maximum guest count, and commercial photography. Use those platform settings first. Then add only the property-specific rules a guest genuinely needs.
15 Airbnb house rule examples
Adapt these to your home and local requirements. Do not copy a rule you cannot explain or enforce.
- Registered guests only: The home is prepared for a maximum of [number] overnight guests. Please ask before inviting daytime visitors.
- No parties or events: Small, quiet gatherings of registered guests are fine; parties and events are not.
- Quiet hours: Please keep outdoor and amplified noise low between [time] and [time]. Our neighbours live here year-round.
- No smoking: Smoking and vaping are not permitted inside or within [distance] of open doors and windows.
- Pets: Approved pets are welcome. Please keep them off the beds, pick up outside, and do not leave them alone unless crated.
- Shoes: Please leave muddy or wet shoes by the entrance; the basket of indoor slippers is for you.
- Children: Children must be supervised around the balcony, pool, fireplace, and stairs.
- Pool or hot tub: No glass in the pool area. Replace the cover after use and follow the posted safety instructions.
- Parking: Use the [number] marked spaces beside [landmark]. Please keep the shared drive clear.
- Locked areas: The cupboard marked “Private” stores maintenance supplies and is not part of the rental.
- Fire safety: Candles and open flames are not permitted. Use the outdoor grill only in its designated position.
- Waste: Place tied rubbish in the [colour] bin and recycling in the [colour] bin. Collection is [day].
- Furniture: Please do not move indoor furniture outside. If you rearrange chairs, return them before checkout.
- Security: Lock doors and close ground-floor windows whenever you leave.
- Damage or problems: Accidents happen. Message us promptly so we can help and prevent a small issue becoming a larger one.
A copy-paste house rules template
A few house rules
We want you to settle in and enjoy the home. Please help us take care of it:Maximum [number] registered guests; no parties or events.Quiet hours are [time] to [time].No smoking or vaping [inside / anywhere on the property].[Pet rule, if relevant].Please use only the parking space marked [details].Lock the door and close windows when you go out.If anything breaks or stops working, message [contact] straight away.
Thank you for treating the place with care.
How to write rules guests will follow
Put the important rules in the listing
A rule disclosed only after booking is a surprise, not an expectation. Put booking decisions—pets, parties, smoking, guest count, accessibility limits, cameras, and material fees—in the listing and platform fields. Repeat the short version in your welcome book.
Write the reason when it adds context
“Quiet after 10 p.m.” sounds arbitrary. “Please keep the terrace quiet after 10 p.m.; our neighbours' bedroom is beside it” makes the impact clear without lecturing.
Replace vague language with one action
“Respect the property” means something different to everyone. “Use coasters on the oak table” tells a guest exactly what care looks like.
Separate rules from instructions
How to start the dishwasher is not a house rule. Neither is the Wi-Fi password. Put operating instructions in the house manual so the actual boundaries stay easy to scan.
Keep checkout chores minimal
Guests are not your turnover team. Ask for a few courtesies that prevent damage or hygiene issues, then let the cleaning fee cover the clean. Our free house-rules generator can turn your property details into a concise first draft.
Before publishing your rules
- Check local short-term-rental, noise, pool, fire, and occupancy rules.
- Make sure every rule matches your listing description and amenities.
- Remove rules you cannot monitor fairly or enforce consistently.
- Ask someone unfamiliar with the home to flag anything ambiguous.
- Read the list aloud. If it sounds hostile, rewrite it as a clear request.
Source: Airbnb's ground rules for guests. Platform policies and local laws can change; verify the requirements where you host.
Give guests the rules in context. The Check-in Guide turns your listing into a polished welcome book with the rules, Wi-Fi, arrival details, home instructions, and local tips in one place.