Regulatory Overview
State STR LicenseNot Required
State Preemption LawNo
Permit RequiredLocal Level Only
Owner-Occupied RequiredNo
Last Verified2026-03
Official source: https://www.nyc.gov/site/buildings/homeowner/short-term-rentals.page
Tax Breakdown
4%
State Sales Tax
5.875%
Lodging / TOT
Est. Total Tax Burden~14.875%
Total is an estimate. Local taxes, county surcharges, and platform fees vary. Always verify with your local tax authority.
Key Rule Summary
NYC Local Law 18 (2023) requires hosts to register and be present during guest stays, maximum 2 guests. Effectively banned most Airbnb-style STRs in NYC. Upstate NY (Catskills, Adirondacks, Hamptons) has varying rules but far less restrictive than NYC.
Major City Rules
4 cities tracked
New York City
Highly Restricted
LL18: registration required, host must be present, max 2 guests, no locked rooms. Fines up to $5,000. Effectively eliminated most unhosted STRs.
Hamptons (various towns)
Moderate
Permit required, seasonal limits, neighbor notification
Catskills (various towns)
Host Friendly
Town-level rules, generally permissive
Niagara Falls
Host Friendly
Business license, state tax
Housing Market Data — US Census ACS
ACS 5-Year 2022
8,494,452
Total Housing Units
10.5%
Vacancy Rate
54.3%
Owner-Occupied
45.7%
Renter-Occupied
315,085
Seasonal/Vacation Units
3.7%
Seasonal Unit %
Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates · Seasonal/vacation units are a proxy for STR-receptive housing stock.