Short-term rental rules · New York City, New York
Short-term rentals in New York City, explained properly.
New York City effectively bans traditional short-term rentals. Under Local Law 18 (adopted January 9, 2022; enforced since September 5, 2023), anyone renting for less than 30 days must register with the Mayor's Office of Special Enforcement, and booking platforms may not process transactions for unregistered rentals. Registration is limited to a host's primary residence, the host must be present during the stay, and no more than two guests are allowed. Units in many rent-regulated and public housing buildings are on a prohibited list. Violations can bring fines of up to $5,000. Rentals of 30 days or more, and Class B buildings like hotels, are outside the registration law.
Draft. These rules were compiled from the sources listed below — official where available, with fields that rely on secondary sources marked for review — and have not yet been checked line by line. Confirm with the city before making decisions.
At a glance
What you need to know before you buy or list
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Registration with the Office of Special Enforcement | Hosts renting for less than 30 days must register with the Mayor's Office of Special Enforcement. Local Law 18 was adopted January 9, 2022, with enforcement beginning September 5, 2023[1] |
| Platforms can't book unregistered rentals | Booking platforms such as Airbnb, Vrbo and Booking.com may not process transactions for unregistered short-term rentals[1] |
| Host present, two guests max, primary residence only | The host must be present during the stay with access to the whole unit, the unit must be the host's primary residence (at least 183 days a year), and no more than two guests are allowed[2]Confirming |
| Class B buildings and 30+ day rentals exempt | Listings in Class B multiple dwellings (such as hotels) and rentals of 30 consecutive days or more are exempt from registration[1] |
| $145 registration; fines up to $5,000 | A secondary source reports a $145 non-refundable registration fee and fines of up to $5,000 for violations, and notes a Prohibited Buildings List covering public housing and rent-regulated buildings[2]Confirming |
| Last researched | September 25, 2026 |
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Detailed rules
The full picture, section by section
Changes
Recent and pending changes
Watch the OSE registration pages and City Council for the proposal (introduced November 2024) to loosen rules for one- and two-family homes — up to four guests, partial-unit rentals and no host-presence requirement. It was still in committee as of the last secondary report. State Multiple Dwelling Law also restricts whole-unit rentals under 30 days.
A City Council bill would let owners of one- and two-family homes host up to four guests, rent part of the home, and skip the host-presence requirement.
Sources
Every rule above links to one of these
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This page is general information compiled from public sources, not legal or tax advice. HOA rules, deed restrictions and zoning for a specific property can be stricter. Confirm with the local permitting office and a qualified professional before buying or listing a property.