City Watch
Short-term rental rules in Rochester, NY
How Rochester regulates short-term rentals: the rules that apply, their sources, and pending changes.
Short-term rentals here are subject to registration, a lodging tax, or a small number of operating rules.
- No STR-specific permit, registration, or zoning use category in force
- STRs fall under the general rental Certificate of Occupancy requirement (City Code Sec. 90-16)
- Owner-occupied one- and two-family dwellings are exempt from the C of O requirement
- No owner-occupancy mandate, permit cap, or minimum-stay device
- STR-specific rules exist only as a proposed future ZAP sub-proposal, not adopted
Based on: City of Rochester City Code Ch. 90 (Property Code), Sec. 90-16 (Certificates of occupancy) — general rental C of O; no
Summary of the rule
No person shall permit the occupancy of a one-family rental dwelling, a building containing two or more dwelling units, or a mixed-occupancy building containing one or more dwelling units unless a valid certificate of occupancy is in place; owner-occupied one- or two-family dwellings are exempt.
View the ordinance source ↗✓ Verified
Last reviewed Sep 14, 2026 · Sources · Report an error
Pending legislation
Monitoring Rochester · system last checked Oct 25, 2026
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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.