Syracuse, NY Accessory Structures: ADU Rental Restrictions (2026)

An ADU built in compliance with ReZone Syracuse may be rented to a long-term tenant, but the entire property must be registered with the Syracuse Division of Code Enforcement and obtain a Rental Registry Certificate under Chapter 27, Article 9. The registration fee is approximately $150, and a property inspection is required every three years or after a sale; civil penalties for operating an unregistered rental can run $100 per day, plus possible criminal charges. The owner-occupancy requirement under ReZone Syracuse means the owner must continue to occupy either the principal dwelling or the ADU - the ADU cannot be rented to a tenant while the principal dwelling is also rented to a separate household under the by-right ADU allowance. Short-term rentals (under 30 consecutive days) of an ADU are also subject to the Rental Registry and to New York State sales tax (4%), Onondaga County sales tax (4%), and the Onondaga County hotel/motel room occupancy tax (currently 7%). NY Multiple Residence Law and the NY Property Maintenance Code (19 NYCRR Part 1226, incorporating the IPMC with state amendments) also govern habitability, smoke and CO alarms, and minimum life-safety standards. ADUs in older homes are subject to the Syracuse Lead Paint Ordinance (Chapter 27 amendments) requiring lead-safe certification for pre-1978 rentals.