Short-term-rental rules
Can you Airbnb in Marlborough, NY?
Researched and reviewed by Jake Lee, Founder of Palisade StaysCurrent as of July 2026How this atlas is maintained
Marlborough's STR rules, in Zoning Chapter 155 (added by Local Law No. 2 of 2021, amended by Local Law No. 8 of 2022), are among the county's most restrictive. A short-term rental is only allowed where the owner holds fee title to and occupies, as their primary residence, a dwelling next door to or directly across the street from the STR, and no owner may hold an interest in more than two STR units in the Town. Accessory dwelling units may not be used as STRs. This effectively excludes standalone, non-adjacent investor rentals.
The operator's read
Can I run a short-term rental in Marlborough, NY?
No go for nightly stays
The rule that closes it: A short-term rental unit is a furnished detached dwelling rented for 30 days or less where the owner occupies, as primary residence, a dwelling next door to or directly across the street from the STR unit.
- Is there a legal way to rent short-term in Marlborough?
- Most ordinances of this kind restrict stays under 30 nights and leave longer furnished rentals alone, so a 30-plus-night rental is usually the compliant route in Marlborough. Confirm the specifics against the sources on this page before you rely on it.
What would you do with a property in Marlborough?
Not for nightly stays. The compliant play in Marlborough is a furnished rental of 30 nights or more, which most ordinances of this kind leave open, and which we can set up and run. If you are buying specifically to run nightly stays, buy somewhere else.
What the rules say in Marlborough
- STR provisions in Zoning Chapter 155, added 2021 by Local Law No. 2 of 2021 and amended 2022 by Local Law No. 8 of 2022
- A short-term rental unit is a furnished detached dwelling rented for 30 days or less where the owner occupies, as primary residence, a dwelling next door to or directly across the street from the STR unit
- No owner may hold an ownership interest in more than two short-term rental units within the Town
- Accessory dwelling units may not be used as short-term rentals
- Ulster County Hotel and Motel Room Occupancy Tax registration also applies
Sources: Town of Marlborough Code, Chapter 155 Zoning (eCode360); Town of Marlborough Code, Definitions incl. short-term rental (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.
Navigating Marlborough's rules?
We'll help you find out what's actually possible for your Marlborough property, short-term, mid-term, or otherwise, and run it if it's a fit.
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