Do I need a permit for short-term rentals in Cold Spring?

**Yes**, Cold Spring requires a Short-Term Rental License to operate legally. You need to apply for this license, which costs $300 annually. This permit ensures that your property meets safety standards and that you are registered with the village. See Chapter 100 of the Municipal Code.

What is the TOT tax rate in Cold Spring?

**4% TOT** is the current transient occupancy tax rate for short-term rentals in Cold Spring. You need to collect this tax from your guests and remit it to Putnam County. Ensure you register with the county to properly handle occupancy taxes, as required by local regulations.

Are short-term rentals allowed in Cold Spring?

**Yes**, short-term rentals are allowed but strictly regulated in Cold Spring. You are limited to one STR property per owner. Furthermore, if you don't live on-site during rentals, you can only rent the property for a maximum of 90 nights per year, per village regulations.

Do I need to live in my property to rent it on Airbnb in Cold Spring?

**No**, you do not necessarily need to live in your property to rent it out. However, if you do not reside on-site during the rental period, you are restricted to a maximum of 90 rental nights per year. This limitation is enforced to manage the impact of STRs on the community.

How much does an STR permit cost in Cold Spring?

**$300** is the annual fee for a Short-Term Rental License in Cold Spring. You need to pay this fee to the Village to legally operate your rental. This fee covers the cost of inspections and administrative overhead associated with managing short-term rentals within the village.

Cold Spring

Strict

New YorkUpdated Feb 10, 2026

Gold-standard verification1% sourced

Cross-referenced against 3 official sources — municipal codes, planning-department pages, and government registries.

Verified Jan 30, 2026Sources 3

Summary

Plain-english overview

Short-term rentals in the Village of Cold Spring are strictly regulated under Chapter 100 of the Municipal Code. The village imposes a cap on the total number of STR licenses issued and requires an annual license, safety inspections, and a 2-night minimum stay.

Restriction level

Severity 56

Classification

Strict

Severity

Why this classification

Moderate night cap: 90 nights/year
Moderate permit fee: $300
Limited to 1 property per owner
Tenants cannot host
Permit required
Reporting required
No primary residence requirement

In plain English

What this means for you

To host an Airbnb in Cold Spring, you must first apply for a Village Short-Term Rental License and register with Putnam County for occupancy taxes. You are limited to one STR property per owner, and if you don't live on-site during the stay, you can only rent the property for a maximum of 90 nights per year. All rentals must be for at least two nights, and you'll need to pass a safety inspection and show proof of $1 million in liability insurance.

At a glance

Key numbers

Permit requiredYes

Night limit90/year

Primary residenceNot required

Total tax rate0.1%

Permit fee$300

Processing time30-60 days

7 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps

1The village has a strict cap on the total number of STR licenses available (currently 39 for non-hosted).
2A 2-night minimum stay is required for all short-term rentals.
3Only one STR license is allowed per owner/natural person.
4Unhosted rentals (where the owner is not present) are capped at 90 nights per calendar year.
5Hosts must maintain a local contact person who can respond to complaints within 20 minutes.
6Corporate ownership (LLCs) of STR properties is heavily restricted or prohibited for new licenses.
7Must verify your exact address is within Village limits; 'Cold Spring' mailing addresses often fall into Philipstown (unincorporated Putnam County) which has different rules.

Regulation details

Sourced from official code

Eligibility9 rules

Cold Spring: Your HOA can prohibit short-term rentals even if the city allows them. Check your CC&Rs before applying.
Cold Spring prohibits STRs in the following property types: Accessory buildings, Corporate-owned (LLC/Corp prohibited), Apartments (unless owner-occupied single-family context).
Cold Spring allows STRs in the following property types: Single-family dwellings, Portion of a residence.

Requirements18 rules

Cold Spring: Mandatory in-person check-in: You or an agent must meet every guest at the start of their stay.
Cold Spring has different permit classes: Lottery-based (limit of 34 total permits or 5% of tax lots). Hosted vs. unhosted rentals have different requirements.
Cold Spring: Hosts must report their rental activity quarterly to the city, even if platforms collect taxes.

Application process8 rules

Step-by-step guide to get an STR permit in Cold Spring: Step 1: Verify Eligibility - Ensure your property is in R-1 or B-1 and is your primary residence (260+ nights/year). Step 2: Gather Documentation - Prepare deed, residency proof, site plan with parking, and floor plan with egress. Documents needed: Deed, Utility bill, Driver's license, Site plan. More info: https://www.coldspringny.gov/short-term-rentals Step 3: Enter Annual Lottery - Permits are limited to 34 total and are decided by a public lottery held by the Village Board. Documents needed: Permit Application Form. Estimated time: Annual cycle. Cost: 375. Step 4: Pass Inspection - Code enforcement will inspect for fire safety and egress compliance. Estimated time: 7-14 days.

Fees & costs2 rules

Cold Spring charges a registration fee of $375 (annual). Extended/additional fee: $125 (Renewal fee).
Cold Spring: 300-foot buffer: No two STRs can be within 300 linear feet of each other.

Taxes2 rules

New York has a state sales tax of 4% that applies to STR rentals.
Cold Spring charges a Village Room Tax of 5%. This applies to stays under 30 days. Note: Hosts are responsible for collection unless a specific platform agreement is verified.

Limits & restrictions9 rules

Cold Spring: Each person can only register ONE property for short-term rental. You cannot legally operate multiple STRs.
Cold Spring limits stays to a maximum of 29 nights.
Cold Spring limits STRs to 60 nights per year. This applies to all rentals.
Cold Spring: Total permit cap: Only 34 permits are available for the entire village.

Safety requirements1 rule

Cold Spring requires the following safety measures for STRs: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher, fire inspection, posted maximum occupancy, posted emergency contact, Host or agent must meet all guests in person at check-in to show egress, Check-ins prohibited between 9 PM and 8 AM.

Penalties2 rules

Cold Spring enforces the following penalties for STR violations: First offense: $250 fine. Second offense: $500 fine. Third offense: $1,000 fine and permit revocation. Maximum fine: $1,000. Permit may be revoked for violations.
Cold Spring: Repeated violations can result in permanent permit revocation. You would lose the ability to operate any STR.

Exemptions2 rules

Cold Spring: Rentals of 30+ days are generally NOT considered short-term rentals and may be exempt from STR regulations (but may have other requirements).
Cold Spring exempts the following from STR regulations: long-term rentals (30+ days), Bed and Breakfasts, Hotels, Tourist Homes (governed by Zoning Ch 134).

How to get permitted

Step-by-step guide for Cold Spring

0/3

steps completed

Step 1

Registration with Putnam County

7-14 daysFree

Documents needed

County Registration Form

Official resource

Step 2

Village Application Submission

Submit a completed STR License application to the Village Clerk including the fee and proof of residency.

30 days$300

Documents needed

Application Form
Site Plan
Proof of Insurance

Official resource

Step 3

Safety Inspection

Schedule and pass a fire and safety inspection conducted by the Building Inspector.

14 daysFree

Frequently asked questions

5 answered

Disclaimer

Regulatory information is AI-researched from public city/county codes for educational purposes. Details may be outdated or incomplete. Always verify requirements directly with your city/county planning department before operating a short-term rental.

Researched & verified by Learn STR at GoStudioM

Cold Spring

Strict

New YorkUpdated Feb 10, 2026

Gold-standard verification1% sourced

Cross-referenced against 3 official sources — municipal codes, planning-department pages, and government registries.

Verified Jan 30, 2026Sources 3

Summary

Plain-english overview

Restriction level

Severity 56

Classification

Strict

Severity

Why this classification

Moderate night cap: 90 nights/year
Moderate permit fee: $300
Limited to 1 property per owner
Tenants cannot host
Permit required
Reporting required
No primary residence requirement

In plain English

What this means for you

At a glance

Key numbers

Permit requiredYes

Night limit90/year

Primary residenceNot required

Total tax rate0.1%

Permit fee$300

Processing time30-60 days

7 things hosts often miss

Common compliance gaps

1The village has a strict cap on the total number of STR licenses available (currently 39 for non-hosted).
2A 2-night minimum stay is required for all short-term rentals.
3Only one STR license is allowed per owner/natural person.
4Unhosted rentals (where the owner is not present) are capped at 90 nights per calendar year.
5Hosts must maintain a local contact person who can respond to complaints within 20 minutes.
6Corporate ownership (LLCs) of STR properties is heavily restricted or prohibited for new licenses.
7Must verify your exact address is within Village limits; 'Cold Spring' mailing addresses often fall into Philipstown (unincorporated Putnam County) which has different rules.

Regulation details

Sourced from official code

Eligibility9 rules

Cold Spring: Your HOA can prohibit short-term rentals even if the city allows them. Check your CC&Rs before applying.
Cold Spring prohibits STRs in the following property types: Accessory buildings, Corporate-owned (LLC/Corp prohibited), Apartments (unless owner-occupied single-family context).
Cold Spring allows STRs in the following property types: Single-family dwellings, Portion of a residence.

Requirements18 rules

Cold Spring: Mandatory in-person check-in: You or an agent must meet every guest at the start of their stay.
Cold Spring has different permit classes: Lottery-based (limit of 34 total permits or 5% of tax lots). Hosted vs. unhosted rentals have different requirements.
Cold Spring: Hosts must report their rental activity quarterly to the city, even if platforms collect taxes.

Application process8 rules

Step-by-step guide to get an STR permit in Cold Spring: Step 1: Verify Eligibility - Ensure your property is in R-1 or B-1 and is your primary residence (260+ nights/year). Step 2: Gather Documentation - Prepare deed, residency proof, site plan with parking, and floor plan with egress. Documents needed: Deed, Utility bill, Driver's license, Site plan. More info: https://www.coldspringny.gov/short-term-rentals Step 3: Enter Annual Lottery - Permits are limited to 34 total and are decided by a public lottery held by the Village Board. Documents needed: Permit Application Form. Estimated time: Annual cycle. Cost: 375. Step 4: Pass Inspection - Code enforcement will inspect for fire safety and egress compliance. Estimated time: 7-14 days.

Fees & costs2 rules

Cold Spring charges a registration fee of $375 (annual). Extended/additional fee: $125 (Renewal fee).
Cold Spring: 300-foot buffer: No two STRs can be within 300 linear feet of each other.

Taxes2 rules

New York has a state sales tax of 4% that applies to STR rentals.
Cold Spring charges a Village Room Tax of 5%. This applies to stays under 30 days. Note: Hosts are responsible for collection unless a specific platform agreement is verified.

Limits & restrictions9 rules

Cold Spring: Each person can only register ONE property for short-term rental. You cannot legally operate multiple STRs.
Cold Spring limits stays to a maximum of 29 nights.
Cold Spring limits STRs to 60 nights per year. This applies to all rentals.
Cold Spring: Total permit cap: Only 34 permits are available for the entire village.

Safety requirements1 rule

Cold Spring requires the following safety measures for STRs: smoke detectors, CO detectors, fire extinguisher, fire inspection, posted maximum occupancy, posted emergency contact, Host or agent must meet all guests in person at check-in to show egress, Check-ins prohibited between 9 PM and 8 AM.

Penalties2 rules

Cold Spring enforces the following penalties for STR violations: First offense: $250 fine. Second offense: $500 fine. Third offense: $1,000 fine and permit revocation. Maximum fine: $1,000. Permit may be revoked for violations.
Cold Spring: Repeated violations can result in permanent permit revocation. You would lose the ability to operate any STR.

Exemptions2 rules

Cold Spring: Rentals of 30+ days are generally NOT considered short-term rentals and may be exempt from STR regulations (but may have other requirements).
Cold Spring exempts the following from STR regulations: long-term rentals (30+ days), Bed and Breakfasts, Hotels, Tourist Homes (governed by Zoning Ch 134).

How to get permitted

Step-by-step guide for Cold Spring

0/3

steps completed

Step 1

Registration with Putnam County

7-14 daysFree

Documents needed

County Registration Form

Official resource

Step 2

Village Application Submission

Submit a completed STR License application to the Village Clerk including the fee and proof of residency.

30 days$300

Documents needed

Application Form
Site Plan
Proof of Insurance

Official resource

Step 3

Safety Inspection

Schedule and pass a fire and safety inspection conducted by the Building Inspector.

14 daysFree

Frequently asked questions

5 answered

Disclaimer

Researched & verified by Learn STR at GoStudioM

Summary

Restriction level

Why this classification

In plain English

At a glance

7 things hosts often miss

Regulation details

How to get permitted

Registration with Putnam County

Village Application Submission

Safety Inspection

Frequently asked questions

1Do I need a permit for short-term rentals in Cold Spring?

2What is the TOT tax rate in Cold Spring?

3Are short-term rentals allowed in Cold Spring?

4Do I need to live in my property to rent it on Airbnb in Cold Spring?

5How much does an STR permit cost in Cold Spring?

Disclaimer

Summary

Restriction level

Why this classification

In plain English

At a glance

7 things hosts often miss

Regulation details

How to get permitted

Registration with Putnam County

Village Application Submission

Safety Inspection

Frequently asked questions

1Do I need a permit for short-term rentals in Cold Spring?

2What is the TOT tax rate in Cold Spring?

3Are short-term rentals allowed in Cold Spring?

4Do I need to live in my property to rent it on Airbnb in Cold Spring?

5How much does an STR permit cost in Cold Spring?

Disclaimer