Erie County, NY Short-Term Rentals: Short-Term Rental Permits (2026)
Short-term rental permit rules in Erie County, NY, also called Airbnb permits, vacation rental licenses, or STR registration, list the application steps, fees, and operating requirements for hosting.
Key Facts
- County STR Permit
- None (tax only)
- Permitting Level
- Town, city, or village
- Buffalo Rule
- Chapter 380 registration
- County Role
- Occupancy tax only
Summary
Erie County does not issue short-term-rental permits. In New York, STR permitting and land use are town and city matters, so your local municipality (Buffalo, Amherst, and others) controls whether a permit is required.
Every hotel operator must file a Certificate of Registration within three (3) days after the opening of the business or their acquisition of the hotel. The requirement applies to operators of hotels, apartment hotels, motels, boarding houses or clubs, a short term rental or vacation rental, and other buildings regularly used for guest lodging. Upon receiving a completed registration, the Comptroller issues a Certificate of Authority that empowers the operator to collect the Erie County Hotel Occupancy Tax. This certificate must be displayed prominently at the business location and cannot be transferred if ownership changes.
Full Breakdown
Erie County government does not have a countywide short-term-rental permit, cap, or zoning approval. Under New York's Municipal Home Rule Law and Town and General City Law, land-use regulation and licensing of rentals rest with each town, city, or village, not the county. The County's only STR-related law is a tax measure: the Hotel Occupancy Tax administered by the Erie County Comptroller. For permits you must check your local code: the City of Buffalo requires STR registration through its Department of Permit and Inspection Services under Chapter 380 (non-owner-occupied rentals need a special use permit), and the Town of Amherst adopted a companion ordinance. Confirm requirements with your municipal building or permits department before renting.
Violations & Fines
The County imposes no STR permit penalty; enforcement of any registration or special-use-permit requirement, including fines and license revocation, is handled by the city, town, or village that adopted the rule.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Erie County require a short-term-rental permit?
Where do I apply for an STR permit in the Buffalo area?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Erie County
How Erie County compares: Most Airbnb-Friendly Cities in America·New York rules heatmap·Compare Erie County to another location·View the New York short-term rentals overview
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