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New York, NY Short-Term Rentals: Short-Term Rental Permits (2026)

Heavy Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified June 2026

Short-term rental permit rules in New York, 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
NYC Admin Code Sec. 26-3101 to 26-3102
Rules
43 RCNY Ch. 17 (Local Law 18)
Registrant
Permanent occupant; owner or tenant
Host Presence
Required for stays under 30 days
Booking Platforms
Must verify registration before booking

Summary

Under NYC Administrative Code Chapter 31 of Title 26 (Local Law 18 of 2022), it is unlawful to offer, manage, or administer the short-term rental of a dwelling unit unless that unit is registered with the Mayor's Office of Special Enforcement (OSE) and has a valid, unique short-term rental registration number. The host must be a permanent occupant of the unit and physically present during each stay.

It shall be unlawful for a person who owns, manages, occupies or otherwise controls a dwelling unit to offer, manage or administer the short-term rental of such dwelling unit unless such dwelling unit is registered in accordance with this chapter, such dwelling unit has been issued a unique short-term rental registration number, and such registration is currently valid. It shall be unlawful for a person who owns, manages, occupies or otherwise controls a dwelling unit to falsely represent or falsely advertise a dwelling unit as registered for short-term rental pursuant to this chapter when such dwelling unit is not so registered.

Source: NYC Mayor's Office of Special Enforcement - Registration LawView official code

Full Breakdown

NYC defines a short-term rental as a rental for fewer than 30 consecutive days of a dwelling unit within a private dwelling or class A multiple dwelling (NYC Admin Code Sec. 26-3101). Section 26-3102 makes it unlawful for a person who owns, manages, occupies, or otherwise controls a dwelling unit to offer, manage, or administer the short-term rental of that unit unless it is registered, has been issued a unique short-term rental registration number, and the registration is currently valid. The OSE's final rules implementing the law (codified at Title 43, Chapter 17 of the Rules of the City of New York, effective March 6, 2023) require the registration applicant to be a natural person who is the permanent occupant and either the owner or a lawful tenant of the unit; the host must be present and share the dwelling as a common household with guests, no more than two paying guests may stay at a time, and guests must have free and unobstructed access to every room and to each exit. Booking services such as Airbnb and Vrbo may not process transactions for a sub-30-day stay unless the listing displays a valid OSE registration number.

Violations & Fines

Operating an unregistered short-term rental, or falsely representing a unit as registered, is unlawful under Sec. 26-3102 and is enforced by OSE through civil penalties. Hosts who rent out an entire class A apartment for under 30 days, or who are not present, are also violating the NYS Multiple Dwelling Law and NYC Admin Code Sec. 28-210.3.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to register my short-term rental in New York City?
Yes. Under NYC Admin Code Sec. 26-3102 (Local Law 18 of 2022), it is unlawful to offer a short-term rental of fewer than 30 days unless the unit is registered with the Office of Special Enforcement and has a valid registration number.
Can I rent out my whole apartment on Airbnb while I'm away?
No. NYC only registers short-term rentals where the permanent occupant is present and shares the home with no more than two guests. Renting an entire class A apartment for under 30 days while you are away is illegal under the Multiple Dwelling Law and Admin Code Sec. 28-210.3.
Will Airbnb or Vrbo let me list without a registration number?
No. Booking services are required to verify a valid OSE short-term rental registration number before processing a transaction for a stay of fewer than 30 days.

Sources & Official References

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How New York compares: Most Airbnb-Friendly Cities in America·New York rules heatmap·Compare New York to another location·View the New York short-term rentals overview

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