Amherst, NY Short-Term Rentals: Short-Term Rental Permits (2026)
Short-term rental permit rules in Amherst, NY, also called Airbnb permits, vacation rental licenses, or STR registration, list the application steps, fees, and operating requirements for hosting.
Key Facts
- STR defined as
- Rental of 1 to 30 days
- Certificate required from
- Commissioner of Building
- STR certificate term
- 1 year, renews within 60 days
- Inspection
- Annual inspection required for STR units
- Fine for violation
- Up to $1,500 or 15 days jail
- Key exemption
- Owner-occupied, 2 units or fewer
Summary
Anyone renting a dwelling unit in the Town of Amherst for one to thirty days needs a short-term rental registration certificate from the Building Department before renting it out, and the property must pass an annual inspection to keep that certificate active.
SHORT TERM RENTAL The rental of a dwelling unit for a time period between one and thirty days.
(10) Properties may only be used for the purpose of short term rentals if the Town has issued a short term rental certificate. Properties used for the purpose of short term rentals shall be subject to an annual inspection to determine compliance with the housing code.
Full Breakdown
' Section 44-4(A)(10) sets the operative rule: 'Properties may only be used for the purpose of short term rentals if the Town has issued a short term rental certificate. ' Applicants must give the Commissioner of Building the owner's name and address, agent information and, for pre-1978 buildings, a lead-paint disclosure certification, per § 44-4(A). Under § 44-7, a short term rental certificate expires one year after issuance, sooner than the three-year term for a standard rental registration, and renewal requires a new application within 60 days of expiration.
Section 44-3(B) exempts owner-occupied properties with two or fewer units that are not short-term rentals, along with hotels, motels, certain college, university and faith-based housing, and units in the MFR-4a, MFR-5, MFR-6 and MFR-7 zoning districts.
Violations & Fines
Renting short-term without a certificate violates § 44-3, punishable under § 44-12(B) by a fine of up to $1,500 or 15 days' imprisonment, or both, per offense, on top of the Chapter's general penalties. The Commissioner can deny or revoke a certificate under § 44-9 for fraud, code violations or unpaid property taxes, and unregistered units can be ordered vacated under § 44-6.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to run an Airbnb in Amherst?
How often does a short-term rental have to be inspected?
What if I skip the short-term rental registration?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Amherst
How Amherst compares: Most Airbnb-Friendly Cities in America·New York rules heatmap·Compare Amherst to another location·View the New York short-term rentals overview
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Short-Term Rental Permits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Erie County handle short-term rental permits.