"Airbnb bans parties at rental property listings worldwide"

This is because of Covid, it's kinda been in effect since March, but because people feel the need to continue to "party" and spread germs and viruses, this happens.

I suspect we'll see positive changes in the coming months, just be patient.

Wow. Do you think it would be wrong of me to rent an airbnb and only have my FH;
while his parents and my mom, and the photigrapher are the only guests inside for one hour for exchanging vows and taking pics?

What is defined as a "party"? What does this mean?

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The article gives a little bit of detail. As a pp mentioned, I'm sure the policy will evolve as the situation changes, but it looks like Airbnb is trying to mitigate potential claims and lawsuits that might arise from the relatively small percentage of hosts who are seemingly willing to rent their property for people to do anything they want. It looks like the new guideline is an absolute cap of 16 people maximum at any property and compliance with ALL local guidelines. It will be interesting to see how it plays out. I know in So Cal there have been several highly publicized gatherings at rental properties recently where people are clearly violating current regulations, and those events caused a lot of public backlash/outcry. People are losing their livelihoods because they cannot legally reopen their business, but others are hosting lavish parties or weddings at a local Airbnb and getting away with it? I think Airbnb decided they better get ahead of things quickly.

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I mean that unfairness is coming from the state government more than Airbnb or the host of the property. Three months ago people were asking why Walmart could be packed, but you couldn't shop at small local stores. And precisely because the executive orders aren't uniform, some Airbnb hosts will find themselves in a position where *they* are discriminated against. If a restaurant or other venue can have 25 people for a bridal shower, then why can't an Airbnb host choose to use his/her property that way? Just a thought.

In my shoes, I was planning to rent an Airbnb for my bridal party and another one for FH's groom's party. After the wedding, we were planning to have everyone + parents come over for a low-key "after party" - leftover cake, board games, etc. This sounds like it prohibits that, and possibly the bridal party getting ready as well.

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I don't disagree.... I just interpret it as Airbnb trying to do what they can to avoid being targeted to have to shut down all operations. I'm in CA and it seems to me our elected officials definitely like to try and legislate anything they can. For example, both Uber and Lyft may shut down in the entire state, as early as today, because the legislature enacted laws that prohibit their business model (e.g., no "independent contractors" -- drivers have to be "employees" subject to all state/federal employment laws including wage & hour, overtime, benefits, etc.). Right now both companies say they cannot operate profitably under those laws, so they just won't do business here. I can easily see how a company like Airbnb (that is also in the early stages of a public offering...) does not want some place like CA to say they can't operate here at all because of a perceived threat to public safety. (I am NOT saying that is right, but there are examples of things like that happening here. The mayor of LA has given himself the authority to order that utilities be turned off at properties that allow large gatherings/other violations of current restrictions....) I just shared the article so readers might be aware of potential new limitations on short-term rentals as event space options.

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It says in this article (and in one on Yahoo as well) that there's a new occupancy cap of 16 people with this ban. So if you only have 6 people you should be ok!!

Ah i can kind of see why i guess, because there's been those instances of people totally wrecking the property from parties they have.

although i do admit people renting Airbnbs for parties before is totally genius idea.

View Quoted Comment This should be fine as long as you're up front with your host before booking. For my minimony, we held the rehearsal dinner in the backyard of our AirBnB (7 people total). We asked when booking if it would be fine and they were fine (and even excited) with it.

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I believe the specific guidelines they cite are coming from NJ being absolutely decimated by the pandemic... only to have people break all the guidelines (which are very strict even for big box stores), and send us spiking again.

(FYI: we do not have indoor dining - hey, my job! -, our indoor capacity is 25 people or 25% capacity, whichever is *less*, so on. These guidelines are in place because every time we've loosened them, things have spiraled out of control, almost entirely due to house parties and bars breaking rules.)

However, we are not forcing Airbnb to do anything, we are simply trying to control the outbreak in our state.

It seems that since we're not the only state with this issue, for liability's sake, they are doing this world wide.

God I just hope I'll be able to rent an airbnb for my bridesmaids and I to get my makeup done.