Health and safety requirements for Airbnb stays

During the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s important to keep health and safety in mind. We’ve created a set of mandatory COVID-19 safety practices for both for Hosts and guests of Airbnb listings, based on guidance from the World Health Organization and the US Centers for Disease Control. In addition, you should be familiar with general health and safety guidelines for COVID-19 safety, continue to monitor applicable government travel restrictions and advisories, and follow all national and local laws and guidelines.

Airbnb has introduced guidelines and programs to help address health and safety concerns, but these measures cannot eliminate all risk. Especially if you're in a higher risk category (ex: people above the age of 65 or people with pre-existing medical conditions such as diabetes or heart disease), we recommend obtaining professional guidance and taking extra precautions when you are making the decision to book a stay or an experience on Airbnb. Learn more about health and safety guidelines for Airbnb Experiences Hosts and guests.

COVID-19 safety practices (required)

Wear a mask and practice social distancing when required by local laws and guidelines

When required by local laws or guidelines, all Hosts and guests must:

• Wear a mask or face covering when interacting in person
• Maintain 6 feet/2 meters of distance from each other at all times

Follow Airbnb’s 5-step enhanced cleaning process between each stay

All Hosts and guests are required to follow the COVID-19 safety practices outlined above, as applicable, including Airbnb’s 5-step enhanced cleaning process between guest stays. Any Host or guest who repeatedly violates these guidelines may face other consequences, including account suspension or removal from the community.

Additional guidance for traveling and hosting during COVID-19

Don’t travel or host if you’ve recently been exposed to or have symptoms of COVID-19

To protect the health and safety of our community, Hosts (and all people who may be present at the listing before or during a stay) should not enter their listing(s) or interact with their guests, and guests should not check into a listing, if any of the following are true:

• You are actively infected or have recently tested positive with COVID-19
• You suspect you are sick or have been exposed and are awaiting test results to confirm or deny a diagnosis of COVID-19
• You are showing symptoms or are concerned about a possible infection of COVID-19
• You’ve recently had close, sustained contact with an individual confirmed or suspected to be infected with COVID-19

For more detail about how to travel responsibly during the COVID-19 pandemic, review our article on quarantine and isolation stays.

Wash your hands regularly

Be sure to wash your hands often, especially if you’re in contact with people outside your reservation and are touching surfaces and utensils in a shared space or a common area.

• Wash your hands properly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds
• If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol; cover your hands and rub them together until they feel dry

Follow your local laws and guidelines on masks and social distancing in common areas and shared spaces

When you are in a common area or shared space (as a Host or guest), follow your local laws and guidelines for wearing a mask and social distancing from anyone who is not part of your reservation. Hosts should consider providing a no contact check-in whenever possible.

Remember, if you feel uncomfortable staying in a private room or shared space, consider booking an entire place instead. If you’re uncomfortable hosting a private room or shared space, you can list your entire place, or pause your hosting if that’s not possible.

Hosts should also follow local guidelines around hosting private rooms, shared spaces, and the total number of people allowed to gather in the listing.

Additional guidelines for Hosts of private rooms and shared spaces

Hosts of a private room or shared space listings should also:

• Cap the guest count as needed to allow for social distancing in all common areas when required by local laws or guidelines
• Ventilate common areas during the stay, when safe and secure to do so, as specified in the 5-step enhanced cleaning process
• Clean and sanitize common areas (such as bathrooms and kitchens) as frequently as possible

Some governments may place restrictions on hosting private or shared rooms or may impose additional obligations or requirements on those spaces. Please make sure to review and follow any additional safety and cleaning guidance from the government and/or health authorities in your local jurisdiction.

What to do if you test positive for COVID-19 during or after your stay

If you recently tested positive for COVID-19 or have started to feel any COVID-19 symptoms, contact a medical professional and consider informing anyone who may have been impacted or potentially exposed, in addition to relevant local authorities.