The ability of police to remove an Airbnb guest depends heavily on the length of the stay and local "tenant rights" laws. For short-term stays (typically under 30 days), guests are generally considered "licensees" rather than tenants. If a guest violates house rules or refuses to leave after their checkout time, a host can call the police to report them for "criminal trespass." However, many police officers are hesitant to intervene, often labeling the situation a "civil matter" and advising the host to go through the court system. If a stay exceeds the local threshold for residency—which in some jurisdictions is as short as 14 to 30 days—the guest may legally become a "tenant." Once tenant status is established, the host cannot simply call the police; they must follow a formal, multi-week or multi-month legal eviction process involving a court order and a sheriff. This is why many hosts are wary of long-term bookings without a separate, formal lease agreement.