City Watch
Short-term rental rules in Ithaca, NY
How Ithaca regulates short-term rentals: the rules that apply, their sources, and pending changes.
Rules here limit which homes may operate as short-term rentals, how many, where, or for how many nights a year.
- Primary-residence-only permits (absentee whole-home STR foreclosed)
- Host must occupy the property at least 184 days per year
- Operating permit required to advertise any STR
- Full enforcement in force since June 1, 2025
Based on: City of Ithaca Municipal Code Ch. 325 (Zoning), Short-Term Rental Ordinance (~§325-27 area); adopted by Common Council
Summary of the rule
A short-term rental operating permit will only be issued for a property that is the primary residence of the host.
View the ordinance source ↗✓ Verified
Last reviewed Sep 14, 2026 · Sources · Report an error
Pending legislation
Monitoring Ithaca · system last checked Oct 24, 2026
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City Watch tracks changes from public sources — council agendas, state bills, local news — not a complete legal compendium.
A city permit is not the whole picture — HOA, condominium, deed, or lease rules may be stricter.
City Watch provides good-faith summaries of publicly available information as of the review date shown. Rules, enforcement, and permit availability can change, and summaries may contain errors or omissions. Ratings describe the general regulatory environment; they do not establish whether a particular property or stay is permitted. This is general information, not legal advice. Before buying, listing, or hosting, verify applicable requirements with the responsible authorities and review any HOA, condominium, deed, or lease restrictions.