Short-term-rental rules
Can you Airbnb in Pelham (village), NY?
Researched and reviewed by Jake Lee, FounderCurrent as of July 2026How this atlas is maintained
The Village of Pelham has no short-term-rental law, but its zoning code bans every transient-lodging use (hotel, auto court, boardinghouse, tourist home) in all districts, and its residence districts permit only dwellings occupied by a family living as a permanent housekeeping unit. Renting a home or rooms for under 30 nights is therefore not a permitted use anywhere in the village, and there is no permit path to legalize it.
What the rules say in Pelham (village)
- Village Code sec. 98-98A prohibits, in every zoning district, the use of any building or land as an auto court (15), hotel (16), boardinghouse (26), tourist home (27), or trailer camp (28) - the code's transient-occupancy use categories - with no special-permit exception.
- Sec. 98-6 defines 'tourist home' as a boarding- or lodging house renting rooms primarily to transient travelers, and defines 'boardinghouse' and 'lodging house' as dwellings in which 'no transients are accommodated', so any room rental to transient guests falls into a prohibited use category.
- Residence districts (Arts. IV-X, e.g. sec. 98-10) use exclusive permitted-use lists ('No building or premises shall be used in whole or in part for any purpose other than the following'), allowing only dwellings occupied by a 'family' defined as a permanent, not-for-profit housekeeping unit (or a maximum of two unrelated persons), which excludes transient occupancy.
- The code contains no short-term-rental, Airbnb, or bed-and-breakfast provision and no rental registration or permit scheme; a full-text search of the code returns zero relevant hits for those terms (Ch. 54 Housing Standards is a maintenance code only).
- Sec. 98-6 defines 'hotel' as a building with seven or more sleeping rooms occupied by resident or transient individuals for compensation; even this use is flatly prohibited villagewide under sec. 98-98A(16).
Sources: Village of Pelham Code sec. 98-98 Prohibited uses (eCode360); Village of Pelham Code sec. 98-6 Terms defined - zoning definitions (eCode360); Village of Pelham Code sec. 98-10 / 98-11 Residence A-1 District permitted and special-permit uses (eCode360); Village of Pelham Code sec. 98-45 Residence M District permitted uses (eCode360); Village of Pelham Code Chapter 98 Zoning table of contents (eCode360); Village of Pelham Code Ch. 54 Housing Standards - Dwelling Units (eCode360); Village of Pelham, NY Code - full 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.
Pelham (village) short-term-rental FAQ
Can I run a short-term rental (Airbnb) in Pelham (village), NY?
The Village of Pelham has no short-term-rental law, but its zoning code bans every transient-lodging use (hotel, auto court, boardinghouse, tourist home) in all districts, and its residence districts permit only dwellings occupied by a family living as a permanent housekeeping unit. Renting a home or rooms for under 30 nights is therefore not a permitted use anywhere in the village, and there is no permit path to legalize it.
Do I need a permit or registration to run an STR in Pelham (village)?
Village Code sec. 98-98A prohibits, in every zoning district, the use of any building or land as an auto court (15), hotel (16), boardinghouse (26), tourist home (27), or trailer camp (28) - the code's transient-occupancy use categories - with no special-permit exception.
What taxes apply to a short-term rental in Pelham (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 Pelham (village)?
Short-term rentals face real limits in Pelham (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 Pelham (village)'s rules?
We'll help you find out what's actually possible for your Pelham (village) property, short-term, mid-term, or otherwise, and run it if it's a fit.
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