Delaware County Council unanimously approved a 2% increase to the hotel occupancy tax in a move that’s anticipated to draw in more economic dollars during a busy year. Council first introduced the tax increase in June to capitalize on the various upcoming events that will draw overnight visitors to the region. Pennsylvania law allows counties to place a tax on room rentals of less than 30 days by the same person. Delaware County’s 3% hotel occupancy tax collects approximately $3.5 million annually. The increase to 5% is expected to be effective April 1. It is solely a tax on visitors who rent a room, not on county residents. Projections of the increase show that Delaware County could gain up to $6.4 million from having a 5% hotel occupancy tax. The funds from this tax are restricted solely to the county’s designated tourism promotion agency, which for Delaware County is Visit Delco.
Source: Daily Times; 1/30/2026