Night Caps: Albany vs Colonie
How do night caps rules compare between Albany, NY and Colonie, NY?
Albany, NY
Albany County
Neither the City of Albany nor Albany County currently imposes an annual night cap (e.g., 90-night or 180-night limit) on short-term rentals. The City's STR framework was still in development as of May 2026, and Local Law K of 2025 at the county level focused on taxation and registration rather than a night cap. The binding limit on STR activity in Albany comes from New York State's Multiple Dwelling Law, which prohibits rentals of fewer than 30 days in Class A multiple dwellings (buildings with 3+ residential units) when the permanent occupant is not present.
View full Albany rules →Colonie, NY
Albany County
No data available yet for Colonie.
Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Albany | Colonie |
|---|---|---|
| - | - |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Albany FAQ
Is there a limit on how many nights per year I can rent my home as an Airbnb in Albany?
No. Neither the City of Albany nor Albany County has enacted an annual night cap. However, if your unit is in a building with three or more residential units, New York Multiple Dwelling Law §4(8)(a) prohibits rentals shorter than 30 days unless you (the permanent tenant) are physically present during the stay — which effectively eliminates unhosted whole-unit Airbnb in most Albany apartment buildings.
Does Albany have a primary-residence requirement like New York City's 30-day rule?
Not as a separate city ordinance — but the state Multiple Dwelling Law applies in Albany the same way it applies in NYC. In 3+ unit residential buildings, only hosted stays (permanent tenant present) under 30 days are legal; unhosted whole-unit STRs require leases of 30 days or longer. Single-family and two-unit dwellings are exempt from MDL.
Could Albany add a night cap in the future?
Yes. The City of Albany has been developing a comprehensive STR framework since early 2024 (Common Council subcommittee, public comment portal opened February 5, 2024). A future ordinance could add an annual night cap, a hosted-vs-unhosted distinction, or a primary-residence requirement. Hosts should follow updates on the City's STR information page and the Common Council agenda.
Colonie FAQ
No FAQs available.
Compare other topics
See how Albany and Colonie compare on other ordinance categories.
Want to add a third city?
Use our full comparison tool to compare up to three cities.
Open Comparison Tool