Mount Vernon, NY Short-Term Rentals: Short-Term Rental Permits (2026)

Under Article XV of the Zoning Code, adopted by Local Law No. 5-2024 on September 25, 2024, no one may use, establish, operate or rent a property as a short-term rental in the city without first obtaining a permit from the Building Department (Section 267-97A). The application must be filed, and the permit obtained, before the unit is advertised, or, if it is not advertised, before it is rented (Section 267-97B(1)). Applicants pay the processing fee set in the City Fee Schedule (Section 267-97B(2)) and must submit proof of a New York State STAR credit or exemption, a utility bill in the applicant's name, the property address and room counts, and a notarized certification that the applicant lives at the property as a primary residence and will comply with every permit condition (Section 267-97B(5)).

An applicant renting the entire unit must also name a responsible person available around the clock who can respond in person within two hours of a city notification (Section 267-97B(5)(f)). No permit issues while unresolved code violations, outstanding fines or fees, or unpaid taxes remain on the property (Section 267-97B(4)). Permits run for one year, are renewable annually, and expire automatically on any change of ownership or tenancy (Section 267-97B(6), (8)). Short-term rentals are allowed in one-, two- and multifamily dwellings in any residential zoning district, but only where the unit is the operator's occupied primary residence (Section 267-96).