Short-term-rental rules
Can you Airbnb in Mount Vernon, NY?
Researched and reviewed by Jake Lee, FounderCurrent as of July 2026How this atlas is maintained
Short-term rentals (under 30 consecutive days) are legal in Mount Vernon only with a Building Department permit and only in the host's occupied primary residence, so dedicated investment STRs are effectively banned. Un-hosted whole-home rentals are capped at 180 nights per calendar year, while hosted room rentals are uncapped when the owner or tenant is physically present. The rules were adopted by Local Law No. 5-2024 (Sept. 25, 2024) as Article XV of the zoning code, §§ 267-93 to 267-102.
The operator's read
Can I run a short-term rental in Mount Vernon, NY?
No go for nightly stays
The rule that closes it: Property must be the owner's or tenant's occupied primary residence at all times during the permit term; non-owner-occupied STRs are unlawful (§ 267-96.B). Tenants may apply only with the landlord's signed application.
- Is there a legal way to rent short-term in Mount Vernon?
- 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 Mount Vernon. Confirm the specifics against the sources on this page before you rely on it.
What would you do with a property in Mount Vernon?
Not for nightly stays. The compliant play in Mount Vernon 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 Mount Vernon
- STR defined as an entire dwelling unit or room(s) within a dwelling unit rented for occupancy of less than 30 consecutive days; hotel/motel rooms excluded (§ 267-95).
- Permit from the Building Department required before advertising or renting; unlawful to operate without one (§ 267-97.A-B). Permits last one year, are renewable, and expire automatically on any change of ownership or tenancy.
- Property must be the owner's or tenant's occupied primary residence at all times during the permit term; non-owner-occupied STRs are unlawful (§ 267-96.B). Tenants may apply only with the landlord's signed application.
- STRs are a permitted principal use in all zoning districts where residential uses are permitted (§ 267-96.A; § 267-17 use lists amended for R1-7, R1-4.5, R1-3.6, R2-4.5, RMF-6.75, RMF-10, RMF-15).
- STRs prohibited in multifamily buildings with an active IDA PILOT agreement, fully rent-regulated buildings, dwellings whose lease bars STRs, and non-residential buildings (§ 267-96.C).
- Whole-unit (un-hosted) rentals capped at 180 rental days per calendar year; no day limit for partial-unit rentals while the owner/tenant is physically in residence (§ 267-98(6)).
- Whole-unit rentals require a designated agent/responsible person available 24/7 who can respond in person within 2 hours of City notification (§ 267-97.B(5)(f), § 267-98(1)).
- Application must include proof of NYS STAR credit/exemption, a utility bill in the applicant's name, and a notarized primary-residence certification; no permit issues with unresolved code violations, outstanding fines, or unpaid taxes (§ 267-97.B).
- Building Department and Fire Department inspections required at initial application, before each renewal, and periodically thereafter (§ 267-100).
- Occupancy limited to 1 person per sleeping room of 70-100 sq ft and 2 persons if over 100 sq ft; smoke/CO detectors, fire extinguisher, egress, posted permit, safety plan, and off-street parking required; the permit number must appear in any listing; hosts must comply with any applicable occupancy tax (§ 267-98).
- Multifamily-building permits may be revoked after 3 substantiated complaints in 12 months; violations carry the civil and criminal penalties of Zoning Article X (§ 267-97.C, § 267-101). The Building Department keeps a registry of all STR units (§ 267-102).
Sources: City of Mount Vernon, Local Law to Amend Chapter 267 (Zoning) to Regulate Short-Term Rentals (full text PDF, city DocumentCenter); City of Mount Vernon Code, Chapter 267 Zoning, Article XV Short-Term Rentals (eCode360; added 9-25-2024 by L.L. No. 5-2024, approved 10-3-2024); City of Mount Vernon, NY Code (eCode360 code home). 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 Mount Vernon's rules?
We'll help you find out what's actually possible for your Mount Vernon property, short-term, mid-term, or otherwise, and run it if it's a fit.
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