Airbnb & Short-Term Rental Rules in New York City, NY (2026)

New York City, NY allows short-term rentals — commonly listed on platforms like Airbnb and VRBO — subject to local regulations that have evolved significantly since 2015. Hosts must register with the city (Short-Term Rental Registration) before listing their property. New York City regulates STRs to balance tourism revenue with neighborhood quality of life. Key rules cover primary residence requirements, nightly limits, occupancy caps, and tax collection obligations. Hosts who operate without required registration or in violation of city rules face substantial fines. Below are the current registration requirements, rules, platform-specific notes, and penalties for New York City.

Registration Requirements

Registration Required: Short-Term Rental Registration. Registration fee: $145. Annual renewal: $145 annually. Register through the NYC Department of Buildings (DOB) or NYC Department of City Planning (DCP). Your registration number must be displayed on all platform listings. Failure to register before hosting is a violation subject to fines.

Operational Rules

Short-Term Rental Rules in New York City: 1. Host must be permanent resident of the unit being rented 2. Host must be physically present during all guest stays (no whole-home rentals) 3. Maximum 2 guests at a time 4. Maximum 1 registered listing per host 5. All rentals must be booked through a registered platform 6. Guests must have free access to all rooms in the dwelling 7. Rental platforms must verify host registration before accepting listings

• •Host must be permanent resident of the unit being rented
• •Host must be physically present during all guest stays (no whole-home rentals)
• •Maximum 2 guests at a time
• •Maximum 1 registered listing per host
• •All rentals must be booked through a registered platform
• •Guests must have free access to all rooms in the dwelling
• •Rental platforms must verify host registration before accepting listings

Platform-Specific Rules

Platform-Specific Rules in New York City: Airbnb: Airbnb removed New York City listings in September 2023 that did not comply with Local Law 18. Listings require registration number. NYC collects Hotel Room Occupancy Tax (14.75%) on short-term rentals. VRBO: VRBO also required to verify registration under Local Law 18. Non-compliant listings removed. Always verify current platform tax collection and remittance policies directly with your platform — these can change without advance notice to hosts.

Penalties for Violations

Penalties for STR Violations in New York City: $1,000–$5,000 fine for operating without registration; $1,500 fine per day for hosting more than 2 guests; $7,500 fine for renting entire unit without host present; Platforms fined $1,500 per transaction for unregistered listings. New York City has enforcement mechanisms to identify unlicensed short-term rental listings on platforms. Hosts should ensure all registrations are current and listings display valid registration numbers.

• ⚠$1,000–$5,000 fine for operating without registration
• ⚠$1,500 fine per day for hosting more than 2 guests
• ⚠$7,500 fine for renting entire unit without host present
• ⚠Platforms fined $1,500 per transaction for unregistered listings

Frequently Asked Questions