Short-term-rental rules
Can you Airbnb in Ossining (Town), NY?
Researched and reviewed by Jake Lee, FounderCurrent as of July 2026How this atlas is maintained
The unincorporated Town of Ossining has no short-term-rental law or rental registry, but its zoning is permissive-exclusive and channels transient lodging into narrow uses: owner-occupied bed-and-breakfasts (two-week max stay) only in the MF-I and O-RE districts, inns in MF-I, and hotels in the BE district, while accessory apartments carry a three-month minimum rental term. A typical Airbnb (whole-home or hosted rooms under 30 nights) is not a listed use in any residence district, so operating one is legally unsupported rather than expressly banned; confirm with the Town Building Department before listing.
What the rules say in Ossining (Town)
- No STR-specific law, no rental registry, and no definition of "short-term rental" or "transient occupancy" exists anywhere in the Town Code (verified against the full chapter list on eCode360, current through 05-26-2026).
- Zoning (Chapter 200) is permissive-exclusive: every district section states no building or premises shall be used except for the listed uses, and no district lists short-term rental of a dwelling.
- The DWELLING UNIT definition (sec. 200-53) excludes "a house trailer, boarding- or rooming house, convalescent home, fraternity or sorority house, hotel, inn or lodging" from residential dwelling status, and HOTEL is defined as rooms "occupied primarily by transients."
- Bed-and-breakfast establishments (an owner-occupied one-family dwelling offering short-term lodging with food for compensation) are allowed only in the MF-I Multifamily-Inn District as a conditional use (sec. 200-16.1C(1)) and the O-RE Office-Research Education District as a permitted use (sec. 200-19.2A(8)); they are not available in the one-family residence districts (R-40 through R-5).
- B&B standards (sec. 200-26.1): maximum 8 guest bedrooms scaled to lot size, owner-occupancy required, exterior must look like a one-family dwelling, and the maximum guest stay is two weeks.
- Inns are capped at 15 guest rooms and limited to the MF-I district; hotels are permitted in the BE Business Education district (single property, capped at 300 rooms with conference center under Local Law 3-2024).
- Accessory apartments require a ZBA special permit with owner-occupancy of one unit as a primary residence; the minimum rental term is three months, and boarders are prohibited in both the principal dwelling and the accessory apartment (sec. 200-31.2B(7), B(12) and related standards).
- Whole-home short-term rental of a principal dwelling to a single family is not addressed by the code: there is no minimum-stay rule for principal dwellings, but hosted or room-by-room rentals for compensation resemble the B&B/rooming uses that are excluded from residence districts, so enforcement risk exists.
- This applies only to the unincorporated Town of Ossining; the Village of Ossining and Village of Briarcliff Manor have separate codes (the Village of Ossining has its own Chapter 270 zoning and pursued a rental registry in 2024).
Sources: Town of Ossining, NY Code (eCode360), current through 05-26-2026; Town of Ossining Zoning Ch. 200, Art. XIII Definitions (sec. 200-53): bed-and-breakfast, boarder, dwelling unit, family, hotel, inn; Town of Ossining Zoning Ch. 200, Art. III Use Regulations (R-40 through R-5, MF, MF-I, NC, GB, GB-1, O-RB, BE, O-RE district use lists); Town of Ossining Zoning Ch. 200, Art. V Supplementary Regulations, incl. sec. 200-26.1 Bed-and-breakfast establishments; Town of Ossining Zoning sec. 200-31.2 Accessory apartments (special permit, 3-month minimum rental term, boarders prohibited); Town of Ossining Local Law No. 3 of 2024 (Business Education District: hotel, conference center uses). Last reviewed 2026-07.
How short-term rentals are regulated in New York
- New York has no single statewide short-term-rental ban. Towns, villages, and cities set their own rules through local ordinances and zoning, so rules can differ sharply between neighboring municipalities in the same county.
- Short stays in New York are generally subject to state and local sales tax, and many counties add a local occupancy (hotel/motel) tax, often collected by the booking platform on the host's behalf.
- Common local controls include permits or registration, primary-residence requirements, and zoning limits on which districts allow short-term use. In New York, a town and a village inside it can each have their own rule.
- Rules change. An ordinance can be added or amended at any time. Always confirm the current rule with the municipality before listing.
Ossining (Town) short-term-rental FAQ
Can I run a short-term rental (Airbnb) in Ossining (Town), NY?
The unincorporated Town of Ossining has no short-term-rental law or rental registry, but its zoning is permissive-exclusive and channels transient lodging into narrow uses: owner-occupied bed-and-breakfasts (two-week max stay) only in the MF-I and O-RE districts, inns in MF-I, and hotels in the BE district, while accessory apartments carry a three-month minimum rental term. A typical Airbnb (whole-home or hosted rooms under 30 nights) is not a listed use in any residence district, so operating one is legally unsupported rather than expressly banned; confirm with the Town Building Department before listing.
Do I need a permit or registration to run an STR in Ossining (Town)?
No STR-specific law, no rental registry, and no definition of "short-term rental" or "transient occupancy" exists anywhere in the Town Code (verified against the full chapter list on eCode360, current through 05-26-2026).
What taxes apply to a short-term rental in Ossining (Town), New York?
Short-term stays in New York are generally subject to state and local sales tax, and many counties add a local occupancy (hotel) tax, often collected for you by the booking platform. A tax professional can confirm what applies to your property.
Can Palisade Stays manage a short-term rental in Ossining (Town)?
Short-term rentals face real limits in Ossining (Town) (see the status above), so it may not be the right play. Palisade Stays can still help you understand what's possible for your property, including a compliant mid-term or longer rental, and run it if it's a fit. Start with a quick assessment.
Navigating Ossining (Town)'s rules?
We'll help you find out what's actually possible for your Ossining (Town) property, short-term, mid-term, or otherwise, and run it if it's a fit.
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