Short-term-rental rules
Can you Airbnb in Kingston (Town), NY?
Researched and reviewed by Jake Lee, Founder of Palisade StaysCurrent as of July 2026How this atlas is maintained
The rural Town of Kingston (distinct from the City of Kingston) allows short-term rentals under a permit-and-license scheme in Chapter 314 (Short-Term Rentals), created by Introductory Local Law No. 1 of 2023 (SEQRA negative declaration January 2024). STRs require Town registration and an operating license and are limited to designated zoning districts, with Planning Board approval reported to apply. Ulster County occupancy-tax registration is also required. Verify the current district list and permit steps with the Town.
The operator's read
Can I run a short-term rental in Kingston (Town), NY?
Go, with conditions
The rule that decides it: STRs permitted with Town registration and an operating license and confined to designated zoning districts, with Planning Board special-permit review.
- What does Kingston (Town) actually require?
- Ulster County Hotel and Motel Room Occupancy Tax registration also applies. The governing text is Town Code Ch. 314 (Short-Term Rentals), Introductory Local Law No. 1 of 2023.
- What stands in the way in Kingston (Town)?
- No cap, night ceiling or owner-occupancy requirement is recorded for Kingston (Town). Among towns that permit short-term rentals at all, that is the easier end.
- What does it cost to get permitted in Kingston (Town)?
- Kingston (Town)'s ordinance does not publish a fee schedule in the sources we hold. We confirm current fees with the town before you budget for them.
- How long does approval take in Kingston (Town)?
- Kingston (Town)'s ordinance sets no published processing time, which is true of most towns in this region. We confirm the clerk's current turnaround before you commit to a date, because an unbooked opening season costs more than the permit does.
What would you do with a property in Kingston (Town)?
Workable. Confirm the current permit position with the town before you commit, then treat compliance as the first operating task rather than an afterthought. Most of the risk in Kingston (Town) is administrative, not structural.
What the rules say in Kingston (Town)
- The Town adopted Chapter 314 (Short-Term Rentals) via Introductory Local Law No. 1 of 2023; SEQRA negative declaration issued January 2024
- STRs permitted with Town registration and an operating license and confined to designated zoning districts, with Planning Board special-permit review
- Ulster County Hotel and Motel Room Occupancy Tax registration also applies
Sources: NYSDEC Environmental Notice Bulletin, Town of Kingston Local Law No. 1 of 2023 (Short-Term Rentals); Town of Kingston, Chapter 314 Short-Term Rental Law (official PDF). 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.
Thinking about a short-term rental in Kingston (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.
Nearby Ulster towns