Short-term-rental rules
Can you Airbnb in Port Jervis, NY?
Researched and reviewed by Jake Lee, FounderCurrent as of July 2026How this atlas is maintained
Port Jervis allows whole-home short-term rentals as "tourist accommodations," but you must obtain an annual permit from the City Building Inspector before operating or even listing the property. Permits are issued only after an on-site inspection, must be posted at the main entrance, and renew yearly. The code sets no day caps, minimum stays, or owner-occupancy requirement, so a typical whole-home Airbnb qualifies once permitted.
The operator's read
Can I run a short-term rental in Port Jervis, NY?
Go, with conditions
The rule that decides it: No day caps, minimum-stay rules, or owner-occupancy requirement apply to tourist accommodations; the 29-consecutive-day cap in the code applies to hotels and motels only.
- What does Port Jervis actually require?
- A permit from the City Building Inspector is required before operating (§ 535-37); it is issued only after an on-site inspection and must be conspicuously posted at or near the principal entrance. Permits run one year and are renewable after inspection; nonrefundable application and renewal fees are set by the Common Council in Ch. 280, Fees. The governing text is City of Port Jervis Code Ch. 535 (Zoning), § 535-37; definition at § 535-4; Table of Use and Bulk Requirements (535 Attachment 1).
- What stands in the way in Port Jervis?
- Beyond the cap above, nothing further is recorded for Port Jervis.
- What does it cost to get permitted in Port Jervis?
- Penalties: $250 to $500 and/or up to 15 days in jail for a first offense; $500 to $1,000 and/or up to 30 days for repeat offenses.
- How long does approval take in Port Jervis?
- Port Jervis'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 Port Jervis?
Workable. Confirm the current permit position with the municipality before you commit, then treat compliance as the first operating task rather than an afterthought. Most of the risk in Port Jervis is administrative, not structural.
What the rules say in Port Jervis
- Whole-home STRs fall under "tourist accommodations," defined in § 535-4 as a dwelling in which overnight accommodations are provided or offered for transient guests for compensation.
- A permit from the City Building Inspector is required before operating (§ 535-37); it is issued only after an on-site inspection and must be conspicuously posted at or near the principal entrance.
- The application must include the owner's contact info, tax map parcel, number and dimensions of rooms, intended occupancy, a managing agent or operator plus an on-premises access contact, and insurance details, signed under oath.
- It is unlawful to list, solicit, advertise, offer, or show a unit for rental, or to accept rent, a deposit, or a commission, without a currently effective permit.
- Permits run one year and are renewable after inspection; nonrefundable application and renewal fees are set by the Common Council in Ch. 280, Fees.
- Zoning: tourist accommodations are allowed as accessory uses to one-family detached dwellings in the residential districts (R-1 and others) and in the commercial core per the Table of Use and Bulk Requirements; uses not listed in the table are prohibited (§ 535-15D).
- No day caps, minimum-stay rules, or owner-occupancy requirement apply to tourist accommodations; the 29-consecutive-day cap in the code applies to hotels and motels only.
- Penalties: $250 to $500 and/or up to 15 days in jail for a first offense; $500 to $1,000 and/or up to 30 days for repeat offenses.
Sources: Port Jervis Code, Ch. 535 Art. IX Supplementary Regulations (incl. § 535-37 tourist accommodation permits); Port Jervis Code, Ch. 535 Art. II Definitions (tourist accommodations, bed-and-breakfast); Port Jervis Code, Ch. 535 Zoning table of contents and history (L.L. 1-2020); Port Jervis Table of Use and Bulk Requirements (535 Attachment 1, amended through L.L. 4-2024); Port Jervis Code, Ch. 535 Art. XVI Conditional Use Standards (hotel/motel 29-day rule, separate from STRs). 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 Port Jervis?
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.
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