Huntington's Short-Term Rentals: The Rules That Matter

Every city handles short-term rentals a little differently. In Huntington, New York, there are 9 distinct rules that residents and property owners should be aware of. Some are stricter than what neighboring cities enforce, and others are more relaxed. Here is what you need to know.

Short-Term Rental Parking Rules

Huntington requires every short-term rental to provide its own off-street parking. Section 160-54(C)(5) sets a minimum of one on-site space for the rental guest's car plus two more for the owner's family, and Section 160-49(E) makes parking a guest's vehicle anywhere but that on-site space a separate Article IV violation.

Key details: Minimum spaces: 1 per rental stay plus 2 for owner's family. Location: Driveway or behind the main residence. Off-site parking: Prohibited while vehicle not in use. First-offense fine: $150 to $500.

Parking a short-term rental guest's vehicle off-site or on the street instead of in the required on-site spaces is a Section 160-49(E) violation, punishable under Section 160-73(A)(2) at $150 to $500 for a first offense and up to $2,000 for a third within five years, with each week counted separately. Repeated parking violations also count against renewal under Section 160-54(C)(10)'s traffic-impact standard.

Noise Rules

A Huntington short-term rental cannot host an assembly, defined to include weddings, bachelor or bachelorette parties and similar gatherings, between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. Section 160-49(I) makes any assembly in that window its own Article IV violation, on top of whatever the Town's general noise code already covers.

Key details: Curfew: No assembly 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.. Assembly defined: Weddings, bachelor/bachelorette parties, similar gatherings. Related ban: Pool, yard or sport-court rentals also barred. Cross-referenced codes: Chapters 141, 117 and 124 also apply. First-offense fine: $150 to $500.

Hosting an assembly between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. is punishable under Section 160-73(A)(2) at $150 to $500 for a first offense, $500 to $750 for a second within five years, and $750 to $2,000 for a third, each week of a continuing violation charged separately. The Director can also revoke the permit under Section 160-62(E) if the gathering creates a nuisance affecting the surrounding neighborhood.

Taxes & Fees

A Huntington short-term rental permit costs $50 to apply for and $25 to renew each year. Section 160-52(A) sets the initial nonrefundable fee, Section 160-53 sets the renewal fee and adds a $25 late charge for a lapsed permit, and reinstating a revoked permit under Section 160-67 costs $150.

Key details: Application fee: $50, nonrefundable, per property. Annual renewal fee: $25, filed before expiration. Late renewal: $50 fee plus $25 late charge. Post-revocation reapplication: $150 flat fee. Occupancy or bed tax: None imposed by this ordinance.

Operating on an expired or unpaid permit is treated as operating without a permit at all, chargeable under Section 160-73(A)(2) at $150 to $500 for a first offense and up to $2,000 for a third within five years, each week counted separately. Underpaying or falsifying fee-related application information under Section 160-52 is also grounds to deny the application under Section 160-61(A).

Extended Home Share

Huntington requires a short-term rental permit before renting a room or dwelling unit for stays under thirty days, and only owner-occupied one- or two-family homes qualify. Owners are capped at ninety rental days a year and two bedrooms per dwelling, and must apply for the permit before advertising the space.

Key details: Permit required: Before using or advertising a short-term rental. Owner-occupancy: Property must be owner's principal residence. Annual day cap: 90 days per calendar year. Bedroom cap: 2 bedrooms per dwelling unit. Application fee: $50 nonrefundable, $25 renewal.

Operating without a permit, exceeding the ninety-day cap, renting more than two bedrooms, or failing to occupy the home as a principal residence are each punishable under § 160-73(A)(2): a fine of one hundred fifty to five hundred dollars for a first offense, five hundred to seven hundred fifty dollars for a second offense within five years, and seven hundred fifty to two thousand dollars for a third or later offense, with each week of continued violation a separate offense.

This is one of the stricter rules in Huntington's municipal code. If you are unsure whether your situation complies, it is worth checking with the city before proceeding.

Primary-Residence-Only Rule

A Huntington short-term rental is only legal in the owner's own home. Section 160-49(B) makes it unlawful to run a short-term rental unless the property is owner-occupied, and Section 160-54 requires the dwelling to stay the owner's principal residence for the entire life of the permit, not just at application.

Key details: Core rule: Property must be owner's principal residence. Applies during: Entire permit term, not just at filing. Certification required: Notarized owner-domicile statement on application. Loss of residency: Grounds for permit denial or revocation. First-offense fine: $150 to $500.

Renting a non-owner-occupied property as a short-term rental violates Article IV and is punishable under Section 160-73(A)(2): $150 to $500 for a first offense, escalating to $500-$750 for a second and $750-$2,000 for a third within five years, each week a separate offense. Losing owner-occupied status is also independent grounds for the Director to revoke the permit under Section 160-62(C).

This is one of the stricter rules in Huntington's municipal code. If you are unsure whether your situation complies, it is worth checking with the city before proceeding.

Occupancy Limits

Huntington sets a minimum floor-area-per-occupant rule for short-term rental bedrooms rather than a flat headcount. Section 160-54(C)(6) requires 70 square feet for a solo occupant and 50 square feet per person when a bedroom holds more than one, and children under five don't count toward the total.

Key details: Solo occupant minimum: 70 square feet of floor area. Shared-room minimum: 50 square feet per additional occupant. Bedroom cap: No more than 2 bedrooms per unit. Children exemption: Under age 5 excluded from occupancy count. First-offense fine: $150 to $500.

Housing more guests than a bedroom's square footage allows, or renting out a third bedroom, is charged as an Article IV violation under Section 160-73(A)(2): $150 to $500 for a first offense, rising to $750-$2,000 for a third within five years, with each week a continuing violation charged separately. Overcrowding beyond the permitted count is also grounds for the Director to revoke the permit under Section 160-62(D).

Repeat Violator Strikes

Huntington escalates penalties every time a short-term rental host reoffends within five years, and a prior permit revocation is itself grounds to deny any future permit. First offenses run $150 to $500, second offenses $500 to $750, and third-or-later offenses up to $2,000, with revocation locking an owner out for a full year.

Key details: First offense fine: $150 to $500. Second offense (within 5 yrs): $500 to $750. Third+ offense (within 5 yrs): $750 to $2,000. Reapplication wait after revocation: 1 year. Reapplication fee after remedy: $150.

Escalating fines under § 160-73(A)(2): $150-$500 for a first Article IV offense, $500-$750 for a second within five years, and $750-$2,000 for a third or later within five years, with each week of continuing violation a separate offense. A revoked permit bars reapplication for one year (§ 160-67), and a prior revocation is grounds to deny any future application under § 160-61(D). The Town Attorney may also pursue civil penalties up to $500 per day and injunctive relief under § 160-73(C).

Compared to other cities, Huntington takes a harder line on repeat violator strikes. The enforcement and penalty structure reflects that.

Short-Term Rental Permits

Huntington bars anyone from using, advertising, renting or leasing a property as a short-term rental until the owner obtains a short-term rental permit from the Department of Public Safety. The permit must be secured before the space is advertised, and the permit number has to appear on every listing. Operating unpermitted is a separate Town Code Article IV violation.

Key details: Permit required: Before advertising, renting or leasing. Application fee: $50 nonrefundable, per property. Permit term: One year from date of issuance. Renewal fee: $25, filed before expiration. Enforcing agency: Department of Public Safety.

Renting without a permit is charged under Section 160-73(A)(2): a first offense runs $150 to $500, a second offense within five years $500 to $750, and a third or later offense $750 to $2,000, with each week of continued violation a separate offense. The Bureau of Administrative Adjudication can impose the same fine ranges civilly, and the Town Attorney can seek an injunction plus civil penalties up to $500 per day.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Huntington actively enforces its short-term rental permits requirements.

Night Caps

Huntington limits any single property to 90 days of short-term rental use per calendar year. Section 160-49(F) makes exceeding that cap a violation on its own, separate from any permit issue, though an owner facing an unusual circumstance can ask the Director of Public Safety for a hardship exemption.

Key details: Annual cap: 90 days of short-term rental use per year. Applies to: The property, cumulative across all bookings. Hardship exemption: Available by application to the Director. Recordkeeping: Owner must log occupant names and dates. First-offense fine: $150 to $500.

Exceeding the 90-day cap is charged the same as any other Article IV prohibited act under Section 160-73(A)(2): $150 to $500 for a first offense, $500 to $750 for a second within five years, and $750 to $2,000 for a third, with each week over the limit a separate offense. It is also independent grounds to deny a renewal application.

This is one of the stricter rules in Huntington's municipal code. If you are unsure whether your situation complies, it is worth checking with the city before proceeding.

The Bottom Line

Huntington is tougher than many cities when it comes to short-term rentals. Out of the 9 rules covered here, 5 are rated strict. If you are a homeowner, renter, or business owner in Huntington, take the time to understand these requirements before they become a problem. Most violations come with fines, and some repeat violations can escalate.

All of the above reflects Huntington's municipal code as of our last review. If you need specifics on fines, exemptions, or filing requirements, the detailed ordinance pages linked above have the full breakdown.