Local landlord and tenant rules in Kingston, New York
Kingston, New York has local rules on rent regulation (Emergency Tenant Protection Act of 1974 (L. 1974, ch. 576) §§ 3, 5; DHCR Fact Sheet #8 (FS-08, 11/2024)), good cause eviction (RPL §§ 211(7)-(8), 213, 214, 216; DHCR, Good Cause Eviction Law Required DHCR Notice (posted July 16, 2026; list as of May 4, 2026)) and rental registration (Kingston City Code ch. 332, art. I, §§ 332-2 to 332-6), on top of New York law.
Local rules in Kingston, New York
Rent regulation
The City of Kingston has adopted the Emergency Tenant Protection Act — rent stabilization outside New York City. Apartments in buildings of six or more units completed before January 1, 1974 are generally rent stabilized unless the local declaration narrowed the classes it covers: the rent is registered with DHCR, increases follow the county rent guidelines board, and the tenant is entitled to a renewal. Check the unit’s DHCR registration before you set the rent.
Source: Emergency Tenant Protection Act of 1974 (L. 1974, ch. 576) §§ 3, 5; DHCR Fact Sheet #8 (FS-08, 11/2024) (read the source). Checked on November 11, 2026.
Good cause eviction
The City of Kingston has adopted New York’s Good Cause Eviction Law: a covered tenant may be evicted only for a good cause the law lists and is entitled to a renewal, and a rent increase above the local rent standard — 8.15% for 2026 (3.15% inflation plus 5%) — is presumed unreasonable. Not covered: a landlord with no more than one unit anywhere in New York, a unit renting for more than 300% of HUD’s fair market rent for the county, owner-occupied buildings of ten or fewer units, rent-regulated, income-restricted, condominium and co-op units, and buildings first given a certificate of occupancy in 2009 or later (for 30 years).
Source: RPL §§ 211(7)-(8), 213, 214, 216; DHCR, Good Cause Eviction Law Required DHCR Notice (posted July 16, 2026; list as of May 4, 2026) (read the source). Checked on November 11, 2026.
Rental registration
In the City of Kingston every owner of a rental property files a landlord registration statement with the Building Department, which may inspect the units, and gives each tenant a copy of the City’s “Property Maintenance by Tenants” ordinance (ch. 333) at the start of the tenancy, acknowledged in writing.
Source: Kingston City Code ch. 332, art. I, §§ 332-2 to 332-6. Checked on November 11, 2026.
Also on file
- The State Department of Health names Kingston among the 25 communities where New York’s Lead Rental Registry Law has been in effect since November 3, 2025: a residential rental property built before 1980 with two or more units must be entered in the registry, inspected for lead hazards and hold a Lead Safety Certificate renewed at least every three years, even where one of the units is occupied by the owner or the owner’s family. Source: N.Y. Public Health Law § 1377; NYS Department of Health, Lead Rental Registry Requirements for Property Owners. Checked on November 12, 2026.
New York rules that apply in Kingston
| Rule | New York |
|---|---|
| How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in New York? | 14 days |
| How much can a landlord charge for a security deposit in New York? | 1 month of rent |
| Does a landlord have to pay interest on a security deposit in New York? | Buildings of six or more units must hold the deposit in an interest-bearing New York account; the owner may keep 1 % as an administrative fee. |
| How much notice does a landlord have to give before raising the rent in New York? | 30 / 60 / 90 days by tenancy length, on increases of 5% or more |
| How much notice must a landlord give to end a tenancy in New York? | 30 / 60 / 90 days by tenancy length |
| How many days does a tenant get to pay late rent in New York? | 14 days to pay |
| How much can a landlord charge for a late rent fee in New York? | $50 or 5%, whichever is less |
| Is there a grace period for paying rent in New York? | 5 days |
Every New York rule Seayora publishes.
The homes these rules cover in Kingston
51.6% of the occupied homes in Kingston are rented, about 5,166 households, a share higher than across New York (45.7%).
The median gross rent is $1,469 a month, lower than across New York ($1,621); that is what households report paying, utilities included, not the asking rent for a vacant apartment.
59.4% of renters there pay 30% or more of their income on rent.
89.8% of the homes were built before 1980, and the federal lead-paint disclosure rule covers housing built before 1978.
| Kingston | Ulster County | New York | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that rent | 51.6% (±3.7 points) | 30.1% | 45.7% |
| Median gross rent | $1,469 (±$91) | $1,425 | $1,621 |
| Renters paying 30% or more of income on rent | 59.4% (±6.4 points) | 57.2% | 52.1% |
| Median income of renter households | $47,364 (±$4,750) | $47,196 | $57,803 |
| Homes built before 1980 | 89.8% (±5.3 points) | 66.3% | 73.9% |
| Homes in buildings of five or more units | 23.5% (±3.5 points) | 9.9% | 34.7% |
| Rental vacancy rate | 5.1% (±2.4 points) | 4.9% | 3.8% |
| Households that moved in since 2020 | 24.0% (±3.3 points) | 18.8% | 20.5% |
All housing figures for Kingston: rent by bedrooms, home values, property taxes, commute.
Source: US Census Bureau, Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — undefined. This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Questions about Kingston’s local rules
Does Kingston have rent control?
The City of Kingston has adopted the Emergency Tenant Protection Act — rent stabilization outside New York City. Apartments in buildings of six or more units completed before January 1, 1974 are generally rent stabilized unless the local declaration narrowed the classes it covers: the rent is registered with DHCR, increases follow the county rent guidelines board, and the tenant is entitled to a renewal. Check the unit’s DHCR registration before you set the rent. (Emergency Tenant Protection Act of 1974 (L. 1974, ch. 576) §§ 3, 5; DHCR Fact Sheet #8 (FS-08, 11/2024))
Does a landlord in Kingston need a reason to evict or not renew?
The City of Kingston has adopted New York’s Good Cause Eviction Law: a covered tenant may be evicted only for a good cause the law lists and is entitled to a renewal, and a rent increase above the local rent standard — 8.15% for 2026 (3.15% inflation plus 5%) — is presumed unreasonable. Not covered: a landlord with no more than one unit anywhere in New York, a unit renting for more than 300% of HUD’s fair market rent for the county, owner-occupied buildings of ten or fewer units, rent-regulated, income-restricted, condominium and co-op units, and buildings first given a certificate of occupancy in 2009 or later (for 30 years). (RPL §§ 211(7)-(8), 213, 214, 216; DHCR, Good Cause Eviction Law Required DHCR Notice (posted July 16, 2026; list as of May 4, 2026))
Do landlords have to register rentals in Kingston?
In the City of Kingston every owner of a rental property files a landlord registration statement with the Building Department, which may inspect the units, and gives each tenant a copy of the City’s “Property Maintenance by Tenants” ordinance (ch. 333) at the start of the tenancy, acknowledged in writing. (Kingston City Code ch. 332, art. I, §§ 332-2 to 332-6)
This is a summary of the local rules Seayora has read from each place’s own code, not legal advice. Ordinances change and a rule may have exceptions; check the citation and the office named before acting.