Islip, NY Short-Term Rentals: Short-Term Rental Permits (2026)
Short-term rental permit rules in Islip, NY, also called Airbnb permits, vacation rental licenses, or STR registration, list the application steps, fees, and operating requirements for hosting.
Key Facts
- Code Section
- Town Code Sec. 68-650
- STR Definition
- Rental under 14 nights (Sec. 68-649)
- Permit for STR
- Prohibited - Sec. 68-650(E)
- Permit Term
- 2 years (Sec. 68-654)
- STR Ban Added
- 12-15-2015; amended 8-13-2024
Summary
The Town of Islip effectively bans true short-term rentals. Town Code Chapter 68, Article L bars any rental occupancy permit for a 'transient rental property' (a dwelling rented for less than 14 nights), and operating one is an outright violation.
No rental occupancy permit shall be granted to a transient rental property. It shall be unlawful and a violation of this article for any person or entity who or which owns a dwelling unit in the Town to use, establish, maintain, operate, let, lease, rent or suffer or permit or allow the occupancy and use thereof as a transient rental property.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4826765; v112 updated 2026-02-24; through 02-24-2026).
Full Breakdown
Islip regulates rentals through Town Code Chapter 68 (Zoning), Article L (Rental Dwelling Units), added 5-22-2007. Under Town Code Sec. 68-650(A), it is unlawful for any owner to rent a dwelling unit to someone other than the owner 'without first having obtained a valid rental occupancy permit therefor,' and a permit is valid for only two years (Sec. 68-654(A)). Critically, Sec. 68-650(E) (added 12-15-2015; amended 8-13-2024) provides that 'No rental occupancy permit shall be granted to a transient rental property,' which Sec. ' Listing a dwelling on Airbnb, HomeAway, VRBO, Swimply, or 'in any medium' for under 14 nights creates a rebuttable presumption that the property is an unlawful transient rental (Sec.
68-649(B)). The practical effect is that genuine nightly/weekend short-term rentals cannot be licensed in Islip; only longer-term rentals of 14+ nights can obtain the required two-year rental occupancy permit. Limited carve-outs from the transient-rental ban exist for lawfully permitted accessory apartments under Sec. 68-602, legal hotels/motels and bed-and-breakfasts catering to transient clientele, properties used exclusively for nonresidential commercial purposes, and dwellings located on Fire Island.
Violations & Fines
Operating a transient rental property, or any rental without a valid rental occupancy permit, is a violation under Town Code Sec. 68-650 and is punishable under the penalty schedule in Sec. 68-666 (first offense fine of $750 to $2,500 and/or up to 15 days in jail).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get a permit to run an Airbnb in the Town of Islip?
What rentals are allowed in Islip?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Islip
How Islip compares: Most Airbnb-Friendly Cities in America·New York rules heatmap·Compare Islip 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 Suffolk County handle short-term rental permits.