Short-term-rental rules
Can you Airbnb in Ramapo (Town), NY?
Researched and reviewed by Jake Lee, FounderCurrent as of July 2026How this atlas is maintained
Short-term rentals are not prohibited in the unincorporated Town of Ramapo: the zoning code (Ch. 376) has no STR use, permit, or minimum-stay provision, and the town formally recognizes STRs by taxing them. Since January 1, 2025 (Local Law No. 4-2024), operators of "short term rental facilities" must register with the town Receiver of Taxes, display a certificate of authority, and collect a 5% hotel room occupancy tax on stays under 90 consecutive days. Properties inside Ramapo's villages (Suffern, Airmont, Montebello, Wesley Hills, etc.) follow their own village codes instead.
What the rules say in Ramapo (Town)
- No STR-specific zoning provision: Chapter 376 (Zoning) contains no short-term-rental, transient-rental, or tourist-home use, permit, or minimum-stay rule, so whole-home and room rentals under 30 nights are not expressly barred in the unincorporated town.
- Town occupancy tax (Local Law No. 4-2024, Town Code Ch. 253 Art. XVIII, effective Jan 1, 2025): "hotel" is defined to include "short term rental facilities"; operators must collect a 5% tax on the rental rate for stays under 90 consecutive days.
- Operator registration required for the tax: file a certificate of registration with the Receiver of Taxes (within 3 days of commencing business), display the issued certificate of authority, keep records, and remit quarterly returns (§§ 253-65 to 253-66).
- Rockland County's 3% hotel room occupancy tax and NYS sales tax also apply to short-term stays under the 2024 state STR law (effective April 2025); booking platforms often collect these, but liability rests with the operator.
- Zoning definitions still constrain use: a "dwelling unit" is limited to one "family" (persons related, or up to 4 unrelated, living as a single housekeeping unit), and boarding/rooming houses are excluded from the dwelling-unit definition; operating like a hotel (transient accommodations for 10+ persons with services) is a separate use requiring a Planning Board special permit (§ 376-122).
- This record covers only the unincorporated town. Ramapo's incorporated villages (Suffern, Spring Valley in part, Airmont, Chestnut Ridge, Hillburn, Kaser, Montebello, New Hempstead, New Square, Pomona in part, Sloatsburg, Wesley Hills) each have their own zoning and STR rules.
Sources: Town of Ramapo Hotel Room Occupancy Tax local law text (hearing notice with full law, Nov 2024); Town of Ramapo notice: Local Law No. 4-2024 Hotel Room Occupancy Tax; Ramapo Town Code Ch. 376 Art. I definitions (dwelling unit, family, hotel) - eCode360, read via Wayback Machine capture; Ramapo Town Code Ch. 376 Zoning chapter structure - eCode360, read via Wayback Machine capture; Town of Ramapo Code table of contents (no STR chapter) - eCode360, read via Wayback Machine capture; NY S9740 (2023-24): state enabling act for Ramapo hotel/motel occupancy tax (Tax Law 1202-jj); Rockland County Business Journal (Jan 2025): STRs allowed in Town of Ramapo; town hotel tax covers STRs; Rockland County Hotel Room Occupancy Tax (county 3% tax) - eCode360. 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.
Ramapo (Town) short-term-rental FAQ
Can I run a short-term rental (Airbnb) in Ramapo (Town), NY?
Short-term rentals are not prohibited in the unincorporated Town of Ramapo: the zoning code (Ch. 376) has no STR use, permit, or minimum-stay provision, and the town formally recognizes STRs by taxing them. Since January 1, 2025 (Local Law No. 4-2024), operators of "short term rental facilities" must register with the town Receiver of Taxes, display a certificate of authority, and collect a 5% hotel room occupancy tax on stays under 90 consecutive days. Properties inside Ramapo's villages (Suffern, Airmont, Montebello, Wesley Hills, etc.) follow their own village codes instead.
Do I need a permit or registration to run an STR in Ramapo (Town)?
No STR-specific zoning provision: Chapter 376 (Zoning) contains no short-term-rental, transient-rental, or tourist-home use, permit, or minimum-stay rule, so whole-home and room rentals under 30 nights are not expressly barred in the unincorporated town.
What taxes apply to a short-term rental in Ramapo (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 Ramapo (Town)?
Palisade Stays launches and runs short-term rentals for owners end to end. Where a short-term rental works in Ramapo (Town), we can handle setup, listing, guest operations, and turnovers. Start with a quick property-fit assessment.
Thinking about a short-term rental in Ramapo (Town)?
Palisade Stays launches and runs short-term rentals for owners end to end. Tell us about your property and we'll see if it's a fit.
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