Night Caps: Brighton vs Rochester
How do night caps rules compare between Brighton, NY and Rochester, NY?
Brighton and Rochester have similar restriction levels.
Brighton, NY
Monroe County
Monroe County does not impose a countywide cap on the number of nights a short-term rental can be booked. On December 9, 2025 the Monroe County Legislature voted 21-8 to opt out of the optional county short-term rental registry created by New York's 2024 STR law (S.885C/A.4130C, signed December 21, 2024 and amended by Chapter 99 of the Laws of 2025). Without a county registry there is no county-level mechanism to enforce a nightly cap. Statewide, the New York Multiple Dwelling Law (MDL) §4(8) makes whole-unit short-term rentals (under 30 days) of dwellings in covered Class A multiple dwellings illegal unless a permanent occupant is present. Any night-cap or stay-length limits within Monroe County come from individual towns, villages, or the City of Rochester, not from the county.
View full Brighton rules →Rochester, NY
Monroe County
Monroe County does not impose a countywide cap on the number of nights a short-term rental can be booked. On December 9, 2025 the Monroe County Legislature voted 21-8 to opt out of the optional county short-term rental registry created by New York's 2024 STR law (S.885C/A.4130C, signed December 21, 2024 and amended by Chapter 99 of the Laws of 2025). Without a county registry there is no county-level mechanism to enforce a nightly cap. Statewide, the New York Multiple Dwelling Law (MDL) §4(8) makes whole-unit short-term rentals (under 30 days) of dwellings in covered Class A multiple dwellings illegal unless a permanent occupant is present. Any night-cap or stay-length limits within Monroe County come from individual towns, villages, or the City of Rochester, not from the county.
View full Rochester rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Brighton | Rochester |
|---|---|---|
| County night cap | None — Monroe County has no nightly cap | None — Monroe County has no nightly cap |
| STR registry status | Opted out 21-8 on December 9, 2025 | Opted out 21-8 on December 9, 2025 |
| Authorizing state law | S.885C/A.4130C (signed Dec 21, 2024); Chapter 99 of the Laws of 2025 | S.885C/A.4130C (signed Dec 21, 2024); Chapter 99 of the Laws of 2025 |
| Existing Airbnb agreement | Voluntary occupancy-tax collection since 2018 (~$1.2M in 2024) | Voluntary occupancy-tax collection since 2018 (~$1.2M in 2024) |
| Key state baseline | NY Multiple Dwelling Law §4(8) — no whole-unit rentals under 30 days in covered Class A multiple dwellings without host present | NY Multiple Dwelling Law §4(8) — no whole-unit rentals under 30 days in covered Class A multiple dwellings without host present |
| Where caps may apply | Individual towns, villages, or City of Rochester | Individual towns, villages, or City of Rochester |
| Enforcing agency | Municipal code enforcement (no county STR office) | Municipal code enforcement (no county STR office) |
| County contact | Monroe County Department of Planning and Development, 50 W Main St, Suite 1150, Rochester, NY 14614 — (585) 753-2000 | Monroe County Department of Planning and Development, 50 W Main St, Suite 1150, Rochester, NY 14614 — (585) 753-2000 |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Brighton FAQ
Does Monroe County limit how many nights I can rent my Airbnb?
No. Monroe County has no countywide nightly cap on short-term rentals. The Monroe County Legislature voted 21-8 on December 9, 2025 to opt out of the optional county short-term rental registry created under New York's 2024 STR law. Any night-cap rules come from your town, village, or the City of Rochester.
Did Monroe County create a short-term rental registry under the 2024 New York law?
No. The Monroe County Legislature voted to opt out of creating a registry under S.885C/A.4130C (signed December 21, 2024) and Chapter 99 of the Laws of 2025. Monroe County is the only major upstate New York county to opt out, relying instead on a voluntary occupancy-tax agreement with Airbnb that has been in place since 2018.
What state-level short-term rental rules still apply in Monroe County?
New York Multiple Dwelling Law §4(8) bars whole-unit rentals of fewer than 30 consecutive days in covered Class A multiple dwellings (typically buildings with three or more units in larger cities) unless a permanent occupant is present during the stay. Hosts must also collect and remit New York State sales tax and Monroe County occupancy tax.
Rochester FAQ
Does Monroe County limit how many nights I can rent my Airbnb?
No. Monroe County has no countywide nightly cap on short-term rentals. The Monroe County Legislature voted 21-8 on December 9, 2025 to opt out of the optional county short-term rental registry created under New York's 2024 STR law. Any night-cap rules come from your town, village, or the City of Rochester.
Did Monroe County create a short-term rental registry under the 2024 New York law?
No. The Monroe County Legislature voted to opt out of creating a registry under S.885C/A.4130C (signed December 21, 2024) and Chapter 99 of the Laws of 2025. Monroe County is the only major upstate New York county to opt out, relying instead on a voluntary occupancy-tax agreement with Airbnb that has been in place since 2018.
What state-level short-term rental rules still apply in Monroe County?
New York Multiple Dwelling Law §4(8) bars whole-unit rentals of fewer than 30 consecutive days in covered Class A multiple dwellings (typically buildings with three or more units in larger cities) unless a permanent occupant is present during the stay. Hosts must also collect and remit New York State sales tax and Monroe County occupancy tax.
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