NYC Short-Term Rental Law (Local Law 18): Registration and Rules
NYC hosts renting for under 30 days must register with the city, stay in the unit and host no more than two paying guests. The $145 fee and the rules.
By Seayora Editorial Team · Published · Facts checked · 3 min read
Short answer: New York City’s Local Law 18 requires anyone renting a home for fewer than 30 consecutive days to register with the Mayor’s Office of Special Enforcement, and bars platforms such as Airbnb and Vrbo from processing bookings for unregistered rentals. A host must be a natural person who permanently occupies the unit, must stay in it with the guests, and may have no more than two paying guests at a time. The application fee is $145 and a registration lasts up to four years. Rent-stabilized, rent-controlled and NYCHA apartments are not eligible.
Key takeaways
- Registration is required for stays under 30 consecutive days; platforms cannot process unregistered bookings.
- The host must live in the unit, stay during the guests’ visit and host no more than two paying guests.
- The application fee is $145 and registration lasts up to four years.
- Whole-unit short-term rentals are legal only in Class B multiple dwellings approved for them.
Who has to register?
Local Law 18, the Short-Term Rental Registration Law, requires short-term rental hosts to register with the Mayor’s Office of Special Enforcement (OSE), and prohibits booking service platforms, such as Airbnb, Vrbo and Booking.com, from processing transactions for unregistered short-term rentals. Enforcement began September 5, 2023. Rentals of 30 consecutive days or more, and Class B multiple dwellings approved by the city for short-term occupancy, are exempt (OSE).
What are the rules for hosts?
Short-term rentals are permitted only if the host stays in the same unit as the guests, has no more than two paying guests at a time and maintains a common household with them. All other laws on the use of the space still apply, so guests cannot sleep in a cellar, attic or garage where that is illegal (OSE FAQ). Under OSE’s rules, a registered host must be a natural person who is the permanent occupant of the unit, meaning someone occupying it for 30 consecutive days or more (OSE rules).
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Which stays need registration? | Fewer than 30 consecutive days |
| Who can register? | A natural person who permanently occupies the unit |
| Guest limit | No more than two paying guests, with the host present |
| Application fee | $145, non-refundable, plus a processing fee |
| How long registration lasts | Four years, or until the host’s right to occupy ends if sooner |
| Not eligible | Rent-stabilized, rent-controlled and NYCHA units, and buildings on the Prohibited Buildings List |
Which apartments can never be registered?
Tenants in NYCHA, rent-controlled and rent-stabilized apartments are not eligible, and neither are units in buildings whose owners have told the city that short-term rentals are not allowed; those buildings are on OSE’s searchable Prohibited Buildings List. A unit whose rent is regulated in other ways, such as under a regulatory agreement, is also excluded (OSE FAQ).
What should landlords do?
An owner who does not want tenants hosting short-term guests can ask OSE to add the building to the Prohibited Buildings List, which blocks registration there. Separately, if a tenant’s lease bars subletting or short-term stays, the lease still governs; registration with the city does not override it. See subletting rules and, for occupancy taxes, the NYC hotel room occupancy tax.
Frequently asked questions
Is Airbnb legal in NYC?
Stays under 30 days are legal only if the host registers with OSE, lives in the unit, stays during the visit and has no more than two paying guests. Whole-unit short-term rentals are allowed only in approved Class B buildings.
How much does NYC short-term rental registration cost?
The application fee is $145, plus a small payment processing fee, and it is non-refundable.
Can I rent out my rent-stabilized apartment on Airbnb?
No. Rent-stabilized, rent-controlled and NYCHA apartments are not eligible for short-term rental registration.
Sources
- Registration Law, NYC Mayor’s Office of Special Enforcement
- FAQ for prospective hosts, NYC Mayor’s Office of Special Enforcement
- Final rules governing registration and requirements for short-term rentals (43 RCNY chapter 21), NYC Mayor’s Office of Special Enforcement
How Seayora helps
NYC compliance: Keep each building’s registrations and city filings with their renewal dates.
This article is general information, not legal advice. Landlord-tenant law varies by state and city and changes often, so check the current rule for your property and talk to an attorney before acting on a dispute.
How we write and check these guides: editorial standards.
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