Short-term-rental rules
Can you Airbnb in New Rochelle, NY?
Researched and reviewed by Jake Lee, FounderCurrent as of July 2026How this atlas is maintained
New Rochelle has no short-term-rental ordinance, but its zoning code gives whole-home transient rentals no permitted-use basis in residential districts: transient lodging (hotel, inn, bed-and-breakfast, rooming house) is defined separately and not listed as a permitted residential use. The only as-of-right residential hosting is an accessory use in owner-occupied dwellings, renting no more than one non-housekeeping room to no more than two persons. Non-owner-occupied Airbnb-style rentals of a whole home in a residence district therefore operate without zoning authorization.
What the rules say in New Rochelle
- No STR-specific chapter, permit, or registration law exists in the City Code: the full chapter index (verified as of April 2025) has no short-term-rental chapter, and Ch. 174 Housing Standards (verified as of Feb 2026) contains no STR or transient-occupancy provision.
- Zoning (Ch. 331) is permissive-exclusive: residence districts (R1-30, R1-20, R1-10, R1-7.5, R2 and RMF districts, SS 331-29 to 331-44) list permitted principal uses (one-family dwellings, schools, houses of worship, etc.); short-term or transient rental of a dwelling is not a listed use.
- Transient-lodging uses are separately defined in S 331-4 (HOTEL: 'transient lodging accommodations to the general public'; INN: 'housing and feeding of transients'; BED-AND-BREAKFAST; ROOMING HOUSE) and none appears as a permitted use in any residence district; hotels are confined to downtown/mixed-use/commercial districts (e.g. DB, DMU, LI-H Light Industry Hotel District).
- Owner-occupied path: every residence district permits as an accessory use, 'for owner-occupied dwellings only, the renting out of not more than one non-housekeeping room to not more than two persons' (e.g. S 331-30B(2), amended by Ord. No. 16-2009).
- BED-AND-BREAKFAST is defined (renting up to 3 rooms in an owner-occupied dwelling to no more than 6 'casual and transient roomers', incidental to the dwelling use) but is not listed as a permitted use in the residence-district use lists.
- A ROOMING HOUSE (dwelling with 2+ rooming units, each max 2 persons) requires an annual rooming house permit from the Building Official (Ch. 174, S 174-10).
- The zoning FAMILY definition (S 331-4) requires groups of 4+ unrelated persons to be non-transient ('the group is not transient or temporary in nature') to occupy a dwelling unit, further undercutting transient whole-home occupancy.
- State layer: New York's 2024 STR registry law (effective 2025) requires platforms to collect state and local sales/occupancy taxes on Westchester STR stays; this is separate from city zoning.
- Caveat: eCode360 blocks automated access, so code text was verified via Wayback Machine snapshots (zoning definitions and residence-district uses as of 2021, zoning chapter index 2023, full code index April 2025, Ch. 174 Feb 2026); no STR amendment surfaced in searches through mid-2026, but confirm the live code before relying.
Sources: New Rochelle Code Ch. 331 Zoning, Art. II Definitions (S 331-4) - eCode360 via Wayback snapshot; New Rochelle Code Ch. 331 Zoning, Art. VI Uses in Residence Districts - eCode360 via Wayback snapshot; New Rochelle Code Ch. 331 Zoning chapter index (articles and districts) - eCode360 via Wayback snapshot; New Rochelle Code Ch. 174 Housing Standards (incl. S 174-10 rooming house permit) - eCode360 via Wayback snapshot, Feb 2026; City of New Rochelle full code chapter index (no STR chapter) - eCode360 via Wayback snapshot, Apr 2025; City of New Rochelle Code on eCode360 (live canonical source; blocks automated access). 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.
New Rochelle short-term-rental FAQ
Can I run a short-term rental (Airbnb) in New Rochelle, NY?
New Rochelle has no short-term-rental ordinance, but its zoning code gives whole-home transient rentals no permitted-use basis in residential districts: transient lodging (hotel, inn, bed-and-breakfast, rooming house) is defined separately and not listed as a permitted residential use. The only as-of-right residential hosting is an accessory use in owner-occupied dwellings, renting no more than one non-housekeeping room to no more than two persons. Non-owner-occupied Airbnb-style rentals of a whole home in a residence district therefore operate without zoning authorization.
Do I need a permit or registration to run an STR in New Rochelle?
No STR-specific chapter, permit, or registration law exists in the City Code: the full chapter index (verified as of April 2025) has no short-term-rental chapter, and Ch. 174 Housing Standards (verified as of Feb 2026) contains no STR or transient-occupancy provision.
What taxes apply to a short-term rental in New Rochelle, 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 New Rochelle?
Short-term rentals face real limits in New Rochelle (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 New Rochelle's rules?
We'll help you find out what's actually possible for your New Rochelle property, short-term, mid-term, or otherwise, and run it if it's a fit.
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