What are hotel laws?
Hotel laws are the rules and regulations that hotel operators and staff must follow to ensure legal compliance, protect guests’ rights and maintain safety and service standards.
Hotel laws and regulations can vary significantly between countries, states, and even local jurisdictions: for example, hotel laws and regulations in Florida can be very different to California hotel laws.
This blog will take a closer look at hotel rules and regulations to help you understand your legal obligations as a hotel business.
Why are hotel laws and regulations important to follow?
Complying with hotel laws and regulations is critical to protecting the safety, rights and wellbeing of both guests and staff. A benefit of compliance is ensuring your hotel business maintains high standards of cleanliness, security and service.
Following hotel laws to the letter also protects the hotel – it shields you from the legal and financial consequences of non-compliance, while also helping you to build trust with your guests.
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Hotel laws in different states
While there are hotel rules and regulations that cover the whole of the US, much of the regulatory work is left to the states. Let’s take a look at how three of the largest states in the US differ in terms of hotel laws.
Hotel laws in Texas
Texas hotel laws prioritise property rights, public safety and consumer transparency. Hotels are subject to fire code compliance, health inspections and zoning regulations governed by local jurisdictions. The state also enforces laws on room tax collection and the clear display of rates.
In terms of hotel eviction laws, Texas hotels can typically evict guests without formal legal proceedings, but if a guest has established residency – whether through an extended stay or by receiving mail at the hotel – they could be considered a tenant, which would necessitate more formal eviction procedures.
Hotel laws in Florida
Florida hotel laws place strong emphasis on public health and safety. Hotels must comply with sanitation standards set by the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR), including regular inspections of water quality, food services and pest control (particularly important in such a hot and humid state).
Florida also has strict rules around disaster preparedness, especially for hurricane-prone areas. Accessibility, fire safety and clear guest pricing are all closely monitored, and hotels must display their lodging license publicly at the property.
Hotel laws in California
California hotel regulations are amongst the strictest in the US, especially when it comes to employee rights and sustainability. Hotels must comply with state labour laws like daily housekeeping rules, fair scheduling and even human trafficking awareness training.
Environmental compliance is also key – many cities require hotels to implement recycling, energy efficiency and water conservation programs. Hotels must clearly disclose resort fees and can face heavy fines for misleading pricing or advertising. Local ordinances can add additional layers of regulation.
Hotel laws and regulations to stay compliant on
What sort of laws do hotel businesses need to be aware of? Examples include:
Hotel refund laws
While some states have mandatory refund rules for specific situations, your stated cancellation policy will generally take precedence. As such, you should clearly state your refund terms in booking confirmations, and always provide refunds for major service failures.
Hotel privacy laws
With data privacy becoming an increasingly prevalent issue across the globe, your hotel should collect only the most necessary information and secure it properly. No matter where you operate, it’s wise to comply with world-leading privacy laws like Europe’s GDPR.
Hotel eviction laws
Just like residential landlords, hotels must follow specific legal procedures when removing guests. Eviction laws vary state by state, but a hotel will generally need a valid reason, such as non-payment, disruptive behaviour, or overstaying to evict a guest. Clear documentation of any incidents is key to avoiding any legal trouble.
Hotel security camera laws
Hotels can only place cameras in common/public areas – no surveillance can be carried out in private spaces (e.g. rooms and bathrooms). In Texas and other states, hotels must post signage that indicates the presence of security cameras, including the name and contact information of the entity responsible for those cameras.
Hotel room temperature regulations
Certain US states have regulations relating to hotel room temperatures that focus on both energy efficiency and guest comfort and safety. California’s Title 24 energy code, for example, requires hotels to have in-room thermostats that offer both Fahrenheit and Celsius readings. Unoccupied rooms can’t be heated lower than 60°F or cooled higher than 80°F.
Hotel rules and regulations checklist to use
A hotel regulation checklist is a handy way to ensure your hotel is fully compliant, to reduce risk, maintain high standards and create a safer, more professional environment for your guests and staff. While the specifics of your checklist will depend on local laws, it should cover:
- Health and safety: Follow OSHA guidelines and maintain clean, hazard-free facilities.
- Fire and emergency: Install smoke detectors, fire extinguishers and visible exit signs.
- Accessibility (ADA): Ensure facilities are accessible to guests with disabilities.
- Licensing and permits: Keep business, food, alcohol and occupancy licences up to date.
- Guest rights and evictions: Handle removals lawfully and document incidents properly.
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Hotel cyber security regulations
One set of regulations that can be a little more borderless than those listed above – particularly for hotels that host international visitors – are the ones relating to hotel cyber security. European guests, for example, will have high expectations in terms of data privacy, driven by their continent’s leadership in the space, namely with its GDPR legislation.
Hotels should therefore work to meet and ideally exceed those expectations, implementing world-leading data privacy and cyber security technologies that give guests total confidence.