New York City

New York City's short-term rental law (Local Law 18) effectively prohibits unhosted rentals of less than 30 days in most apartment buildings. To legally host for under 30 days, the host must be the primary resident, be physically present during the entire stay, register with the Office of Special Enforcement, and host no more than two paying guests at a time. Booking platforms are required to verify a valid registration number before processing any short-term rental transaction.

In Plain English

To host an Airbnb in New York City for stays under 30 days, you must register with the city. The main rules are: you must live in the property as your primary home, you must be present for the entire guest stay, and you can only host a maximum of two paying guests. Unhosted 'entire place' rentals for less than 30 days are illegal in buildings with three or more units. Before you apply, make sure your building type is eligible (rent-stabilized units are banned) and that your lease or building rules don't prohibit it. Once you get your registration number, you must give it to Airbnb or other platforms to be able to accept bookings.

Step-by-Step Application Guide