Buffalo limits unhosted short-term rentals to the operator's primary residence in many residential zones, preventing investor-owned whole-home rental conversions that reduce long-term housing supply in tight Rust Belt markets.
Under Buffalo's Green Code (Ch. 745) and integrated zoning rules, an unhosted whole-home STR generally must be the operator's declared primary residence, evidenced by driver's license, voter registration, or tax records. This limits Airbnb-style investor portfolios from displacing rental housing in N-1, N-2, and N-3 neighborhood zones. New York's HB 9275 STR registry collects primary-residence affidavits statewide. Violations trigger permit revocation. The rule preserves Buffalo's recovering housing stock and aligns with city anti-blight goals, particularly in Allentown, Elmwood Village, and the Niagara waterfront.
Operating a non-primary-residence whole-home STR without a hosted exemption results in permit denial, daily fines, and potential zoning enforcement actions through Buffalo's housing court.
Buffalo, NY
All Buffalo STRs must register annually with the City Clerk under Chapter 242. Registration includes property details, owner info, local contact, insurance, ...
Buffalo, NY
Buffalo distinguishes hosted (owner-occupied) from unhosted short-term rentals, with hosted operations facing fewer restrictions because the owner remains on...
See how Buffalo's primary-residence-only rule rules stack up against other locations.
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