8 rules for unincorporated Rensselaer County, New York.
Verified from official government sources
Rensselaer County has no county-level STR registration. Troy adopted a short-term rental registry in 2023 requiring hosts to register with the city. Other towns (East Greenbush, Brunswick, Schodack) generally treat STRs under existing zoning, with some requiring special use permits.
STR guests must comply with the host town's general noise ordinance. Troy quiet hours run 10 PM to 7 AM. Most Rensselaer County towns use nuisance-based standards rather than decibel limits.
Rensselaer County imposes a 5 percent hotel and motel occupancy tax on stays under 30 days (County Local Law No. 5 of 2017, amended). NY State sales tax 4 percent plus county tax 4 percent also apply. Airbnb and Vrbo collect state sales tax; hosts must remit county occupancy tax directly.
Town zoning sets parking minimums for STRs. Typical requirement: 1 off-street space per bedroom rented. On-street parking permitted where legal; Troy has alternate-side cleaning and permit zones near RPI campus.
Occupancy generally capped at 2 persons per bedroom plus 2, consistent with NY Property Maintenance Code. Troy limits commercial STR occupancy to amounts listed on the registration certificate.
Troy requires STR hosts to carry minimum 1,000,000 dollars liability coverage and list the rental as a commercial use. Other Rensselaer County towns do not mandate specific STR insurance but Airbnb Host Guarantee and Vrbo coverage apply.
Rensselaer County does not cap annual rental nights. No town in the county currently enforces a night cap on non-owner-occupied STRs. Troy requires registration but does not limit rental nights.
Troy requires annual STR registration through the Department of Planning. Most other Rensselaer County towns do not have dedicated STR registries but may require a certificate of occupancy or rental permit.
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