Short-term-rental rules
Can you Airbnb in Ossining (village), NY?
Researched and reviewed by Jake Lee, FounderCurrent as of July 2026How this atlas is maintained
Short-term rentals under 30 nights are not a permitted use anywhere in the Village of Ossining: the zoning code classifies sub-30-night transient rentals as "lodging houses," prohibits boardinghouses, lodging or rooming houses of any kind in every district (§ 270-31D), and deems any use not expressly permitted prohibited (§ 270-8, § 270-31B). The only lawful transient-lodging path in a residence is a bona fide owner-occupied bed-and-breakfast with conditional-use approval, allowed only in certain business/mixed-use districts (never in single-family, two-family or multifamily districts) with a 14-night maximum stay per guest. The village's 2024 Rental Registry (Ch. 205) covers only rentals of 30+ days, so there is no registration or permit route for STRs.
What the rules say in Ossining (village)
- Zoning defines LODGING HOUSE as establishments providing lodging units or rooms for transient stays of fewer than 30 consecutive nights (Ch. 270 Art. II definitions); § 270-31D prohibits boardinghouses, lodging or rooming houses of any kind in all districts.
- Ossining Village zoning is permissive-exclusive: any use not permitted by Chapter 270 is deemed prohibited (§ 270-8 and § 270-31B), and no short-term-rental use appears in Use Tables A-1 or A-2, so whole-home STRs are not a permitted use in any district.
- Bed-and-breakfast is the only transient-lodging use allowed in a residence: owner must live on premises full-time, no more than nine guest rooms, one morning meal, 14-consecutive-night max stay per guest, off-street parking per bedroom, and a Planning Board conditional-use permit renewable every three years that expires on change of ownership (definition + § 270-26B(6)).
- B&Bs are conditionally permitted only in the NC-1, NC-2, VC, SP-N, CDD, IR, PW-a, PW-b, PW-c and P-O districts; they are not permitted (np) in all single-family (S-125/S-100/S-75/S-50), two-family (T), multifamily (MF-1/MF-2) and PRD residential districts (Appendix A, Tables A-1 and A-2). Hotels are limited to business/waterfront districts; motels and motor courts are prohibited in all districts.
- The lodging-house definition excludes "short-term lodging accessory to an owner- or tenant-occupied dwelling," taking hosted home-sharing out of the express ban, but no code provision affirmatively lists it as a permitted accessory use, so hosted room rentals remain a grey area under the unlisted-use catch-all; confirm with the Building Department before operating.
- Chapter 205 Rental Registry (adopted 7-17-2024 by L.L. No. 8-2024) requires registration, inspection and a certificate for rented one- and two-family homes, but defines rental property as homes rented "to be occupied for at least 30 days"; it applies to long-term rentals only and provides no short-term-rental permit.
- The zoning DWELLING UNIT definition excludes accommodations "used for more or less transient occupancy," reinforcing that transient use of a dwelling falls outside the permitted residential use.
Sources: Village of Ossining Code § 270-31, Prohibited uses in all districts (eCode360); Village of Ossining Code § 270-8, Effect of establishment of districts (eCode360); Village of Ossining Code Ch. 270 Art. II, Definitions; Use Groups (eCode360); Ch. 270 Appendix A, Use Table A-1: Business/Mixed-Use Districts (PDF, Supp 57 Nov 2025); Ch. 270 Appendix A, Use Table A-2: Residential Districts (PDF, Supp 53 Nov 2024); Village of Ossining Code Ch. 270 Art. V, § 270-26B Additional standards (hotels, bed-and-breakfasts) (eCode360); Village of Ossining Code Ch. 205, Rental Registry (L.L. No. 8-2024) (eCode360); Village of Ossining, NY Code table of contents (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.
Ossining (village) short-term-rental FAQ
Can I run a short-term rental (Airbnb) in Ossining (village), NY?
Short-term rentals under 30 nights are not a permitted use anywhere in the Village of Ossining: the zoning code classifies sub-30-night transient rentals as "lodging houses," prohibits boardinghouses, lodging or rooming houses of any kind in every district (§ 270-31D), and deems any use not expressly permitted prohibited (§ 270-8, § 270-31B). The only lawful transient-lodging path in a residence is a bona fide owner-occupied bed-and-breakfast with conditional-use approval, allowed only in certain business/mixed-use districts (never in single-family, two-family or multifamily districts) with a 14-night maximum stay per guest. The village's 2024 Rental Registry (Ch. 205) covers only rentals of 30+ days, so there is no registration or permit route for STRs.
Do I need a permit or registration to run an STR in Ossining (village)?
Ossining Village zoning is permissive-exclusive: any use not permitted by Chapter 270 is deemed prohibited (§ 270-8 and § 270-31B), and no short-term-rental use appears in Use Tables A-1 or A-2, so whole-home STRs are not a permitted use in any district.
What taxes apply to a short-term rental in Ossining (village), 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 (village)?
Short-term rentals face real limits in Ossining (village) (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 (village)'s rules?
We'll help you find out what's actually possible for your Ossining (village) property, short-term, mid-term, or otherwise, and run it if it's a fit.
Nearby Westchester towns