13 verified short-term rentals rules for Buffalo, New York, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Buffalo requires all short-term rental operators to obtain a Short-Term Rental license from the City Clerk under Buffalo Code Chapter 242. Hosts must register, pass safety inspection, and operate only in approved zoning districts. Hosted and non-hosted rentals have different rules.
Buffalo STRs must comply with Chapter 293 Noise Ordinance. Quiet hours are 10 PM to 7 AM. STR licenses can be revoked for repeat noise violations. Operators must post quiet-hour notices and provide local contact to respond within one hour.
Buffalo STR operators must collect Erie County 5 percent hotel occupancy tax plus NY State sales tax (8.75 percent in Erie County). Airbnb and Vrbo collect and remit state sales tax but Erie County bed tax is the host responsibility unless platform has a separate agreement.
Buffalo STR operators must provide adequate off-street parking per Green Code UDO. Typically one off-street space per bedroom is required for non-hosted rentals. On-street parking for guests is restricted in alternate-side-parking zones and residential permit areas.
Buffalo STR occupancy is limited to two persons per bedroom plus two additional persons per unit, with a maximum based on Building Code egress and square footage. Non-hosted rentals face stricter caps. NY Multiple Dwelling Law also applies to larger buildings.
Buffalo STR license applicants must provide proof of liability insurance with minimum 500,000 dollars per occurrence coverage that specifically names short-term rental use. Standard homeowners policies typically exclude commercial rental activity.
Buffalo non-owner-occupied STRs are capped at 90 rental nights per calendar year in certain residential zones. Owner-occupied hosted rentals have no night cap. Caps aim to preserve long-term housing stock in tight rental markets.
All Buffalo STRs must register annually with the City Clerk under Chapter 242. Registration includes property details, owner info, local contact, insurance, and inspection certificate. Registration number must appear in all listings on Airbnb, Vrbo, and other platforms.
Buffalo distinguishes hosted (owner-occupied) from unhosted short-term rentals, with hosted operations facing fewer restrictions because the owner remains on premises during guest stays under city zoning code.
Buffalo limits unhosted short-term rentals to the operator's primary residence in many residential zones, preventing investor-owned whole-home rental conversions that reduce long-term housing supply in tight Rust Belt markets.
Buffalo's escalating enforcement framework imposes increasing penalties on STR operators who accumulate multiple nuisance, noise, or zoning violations, culminating in permit revocation after repeated infractions within a calendar year.
New York's statewide STR registry (HB 9275/A8284) makes booking platforms like Airbnb and Vrbo legally responsible for delisting unregistered Buffalo properties, with platforms facing per-listing fines for noncompliance.
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Buffalo city rules.
Short-Term Rentals in Erie County →