Short-term-rental rules
Can you Airbnb in White Plains, NY?
Researched and reviewed by Jake Lee, FounderCurrent as of July 2026How this atlas is maintained
White Plains has no short-term-rental-specific law (the Municipal Code has zero "short-term rental" provisions), but renting out any non-exempt dwelling unit, for any duration, requires an annual Rental Housing License from the Department of Building under Municipal Code ch. 4-29; owner-occupied single-family homes, two-family homes with one owner-occupied unit, and condo/co-op buildings are exempt from that license. Zoning is a permissive-use scheme ("any use not specifically listed as being permitted shall be deemed to be prohibited") that confines transient-guest uses (hotels, extended-stay hotels) to commercial districts and expressly excludes "tourist homes" from home occupations, so operating a home as recurring transient lodging in a residence district sits in a legal gray area and could be treated as a prohibited unlisted use.
What the rules say in White Plains
- No STR-specific ordinance: a full-text search of the White Plains Municipal Code (current through the June 2026 Municode supplement) returns no "short-term rental" provision, no night caps, and no STR permit scheme.
- Rental Housing License required (Municipal Code ch. 4-29, adopted 6/18/2018 as secs. 4-28-1 to 4-28-16, eff. 7/3/2018): it is unlawful to operate any rental dwelling unit until the Department of Building issues a Rental Housing License; a "Rental Housing Unit" is any dwelling unit "being rented, or intended to be rented" with no minimum-duration threshold, so rentals under 30 nights are captured; application must be filed at least 30 days before offering a unit for rent, with a city inspection, floor sketches, $125 + $10 per non-owner-occupied unit initial fee, annual renewal at half that, and fines of $200 to $1,000 per day for violations.
- Exempt from the rental license: owner-occupied single-family dwellings; two-family dwellings with one unit owner-occupied; condominium and co-operative buildings; multifamily buildings over 12 units; hotels, motels, rooming houses, group homes, nursing homes, assisted living; and government-managed buildings (sec. 4-28-3). A hosted (owner-occupied single-family) rental therefore needs no city license.
- Zoning is permissive-list: "Any 'use' not specifically listed as being permitted shall be deemed to be prohibited" (Zoning Ordinance, Section 5 explanation). Residence districts (R1-30 etc.) list only one-family, two-family, and multi-family dwellings as principal residential uses, plus the keeping of not more than two "roomers" per dwelling unit (one roomer in one- and two-family dwellings in the lower-density districts) as a permitted accessory use. No short-term-rental, transient-rental, or tourist-home use is listed in any residence district.
- Transient occupancy is zoned as a separate use: "Hotel" and "Extended Stay Hotel" are defined by occupancy of "transient guests" and appear in the use schedule only in central business/downtown districts (largely by special permit); "tourist homes" are expressly NOT a "customary home occupation" (Zoning Ordinance sec. 2.4); "Rooming Houses" (a dwelling with 3+ rooming units) require a special permit (sec. 6.7.2) plus a separate facility license under Municipal Code ch. 9-9, which also licenses "transient hotels" and motels.
- Practical effect: an under-30-night rental is not expressly banned, and a licensed rental of a dwelling unit is lawful, but repeatedly operating a dwelling as transient lodging (hotel/tourist-home style) in a residence district risks enforcement as an unlisted, prohibited use; room-by-room hosted rentals are effectively capped at 1-2 roomers per dwelling unit.
Sources: Zoning Ordinance of the City of White Plains (official PDF, amended through Feb. 5, 2024); City of White Plains: Zoning Ordinance page; Rental Housing Registry and License Program ordinance (adopted 6/18/2018, official PDF); City of White Plains: Rental Housing Registry & License Program page; White Plains Municipal Code ch. 4-29, Rental Housing Registry and License Program (Municode); White Plains Municipal Code (Municode, current through June 2026 supplement; full-text searched via Municode API). 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.
White Plains short-term-rental FAQ
Can I run a short-term rental (Airbnb) in White Plains, NY?
White Plains has no short-term-rental-specific law (the Municipal Code has zero "short-term rental" provisions), but renting out any non-exempt dwelling unit, for any duration, requires an annual Rental Housing License from the Department of Building under Municipal Code ch. 4-29; owner-occupied single-family homes, two-family homes with one owner-occupied unit, and condo/co-op buildings are exempt from that license. Zoning is a permissive-use scheme ("any use not specifically listed as being permitted shall be deemed to be prohibited") that confines transient-guest uses (hotels, extended-stay hotels) to commercial districts and expressly excludes "tourist homes" from home occupations, so operating a home as recurring transient lodging in a residence district sits in a legal gray area and could be treated as a prohibited unlisted use.
Do I need a permit or registration to run an STR in White Plains?
No STR-specific ordinance: a full-text search of the White Plains Municipal Code (current through the June 2026 Municode supplement) returns no "short-term rental" provision, no night caps, and no STR permit scheme.
What taxes apply to a short-term rental in White Plains, 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 White Plains?
Palisade Stays launches and runs short-term rentals for owners end to end. Where a short-term rental works in White Plains, we can handle setup, listing, guest operations, and turnovers. Start with a quick property-fit assessment.
Thinking about a short-term rental in White Plains?
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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