Short-term-rental rules
Can you Airbnb in Rye (city), NY?
Researched and reviewed by Jake Lee, FounderCurrent as of July 2026How this atlas is maintained
The City of Rye has no short-term-rental law, but its zoning code permits only uses expressly listed for each district, and residence districts are limited to one-family, two-family and apartment dwellings occupied by a "family" (a single housekeeping unit bound by birth, marriage or other domestic bond). Transient lodging is expressly walled off: the only residential-district lodging use (RA-3) must be "nontransient" and "not primarily for transients," and room rentals are capped at two "nontransient" boarders, while hotels and lodging houses are permitted only in the B-2 and B-5 business districts. A whole-home or room rental under 30 nights is transient occupancy for compensation, which is not a permitted use in Rye's residential zones.
What the rules say in Rye (city)
- Rye zoning is permissive-only: Sections 197-6 and 197-21 prohibit any use of a building or lot not expressly listed as permitted in the district's Table of Regulations.
- Residence districts (R-1 through R-6, RS) permit only single-family detached residences for one family; RT adds two-family houses; RA districts add apartments. Short-term or transient rental is not a listed use in any residence district.
- Section 197-1 defines a hotel as a building occupied primarily by transients for sleeping purposes for compensation, and a lodging house as 3 to 5 rooms occupied for sleeping for compensation; renting a home to transient paying guests falls into these categories, not residential use.
- The only lodging use allowed in a residential district is in RA-3: nontransient hotels and lodging houses, explicitly 'not primarily for transients.'
- Home room rentals are limited to an accessory use: a resident family may rent one or two rooms to a maximum of two nontransient boarders or roomers, with no sign and no separate cooking facilities.
- Hotels and lodging houses (excluding motels) are permitted in the B-2 Central Business District as of right, and lodging houses in B-1 and hotels in B-5 subject to Planning Commission standards under Section 197-10.
- There is no STR registration, permit, or rental-licensing scheme anywhere in the city code; Chapter 108 (Housing Standards) is a maintenance code and Chapter 125 (Licenses) covers vendor-type licenses.
- Longer rentals (30+ days / nontransient occupancy) of a dwelling to one family or housekeeping unit remain a normal permitted residential use.
Sources: Rye City Code §197-86 Tables of Regulations (use tables for residence and business districts); Rye City Code §197-1 Definitions (hotel, lodging house, family, dwelling unit); Rye City Code Ch. 197 Art. IV Use Regulations (§197-6 uses regulated by districts; §197-21 prohibited uses); Rye City Code Chapter 197 Zoning (chapter index); City of Rye eCode360 New Laws page (no STR law; LL 3-2026 is a CBD development moratorium); Rye City Code Chapter 108 Housing Standards (maintenance code, no rental permit scheme); Rye City Code Chapter 125 Licenses (generic licensing, no rental licensing). 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.
Rye (city) short-term-rental FAQ
Can I run a short-term rental (Airbnb) in Rye (city), NY?
The City of Rye has no short-term-rental law, but its zoning code permits only uses expressly listed for each district, and residence districts are limited to one-family, two-family and apartment dwellings occupied by a "family" (a single housekeeping unit bound by birth, marriage or other domestic bond). Transient lodging is expressly walled off: the only residential-district lodging use (RA-3) must be "nontransient" and "not primarily for transients," and room rentals are capped at two "nontransient" boarders, while hotels and lodging houses are permitted only in the B-2 and B-5 business districts. A whole-home or room rental under 30 nights is transient occupancy for compensation, which is not a permitted use in Rye's residential zones.
Do I need a permit or registration to run an STR in Rye (city)?
Rye zoning is permissive-only: Sections 197-6 and 197-21 prohibit any use of a building or lot not expressly listed as permitted in the district's Table of Regulations.
What taxes apply to a short-term rental in Rye (city), 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 Rye (city)?
Short-term rentals face real limits in Rye (city) (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 Rye (city)'s rules?
We'll help you find out what's actually possible for your Rye (city) property, short-term, mid-term, or otherwise, and run it if it's a fit.
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