Short-Term Rental Regulations
in Chemung County, NY

Airbnb listings are allowed in Chemung County, NY, but with restrictions. Chemung County requires all lodging operators to register for a 4% occupancy tax. In the City of Elmira, all rental units must be registered within 90 days of operation and may require a probationary certification involving inspections and surety. State sanitary codes for 'temporary residences' also apply to hotels and motels. A permit is required before you can host. These rules apply to all short-term rental platforms (Airbnb, Vrbo, Booking.com, etc.) — not just Airbnb specifically. See the official source linked on this page for full requirements. Last verified 2026-05-14.

Chemung County requires all lodging operators to register for a 4% occupancy tax. In the City of Elmira, all rental units must be registered within 90 days of operation and may require a probationary certification involving inspections and surety. State sanitary codes for 'temporary residences' also apply to hotels and motels.

Yes, a permit is required to operate a short-term rental in Chemung County. 1) Complete the Chemung County Certificate of Registration form and submit it to the County Treasurer to obtain a Certificate of Authority for occupancy tax. 2) In the City of Elmira, file the Rental Housing Registration Form with Code Enforcement within 90 days of operation and pay the $125 fee; if applicable, apply for probationary certification ($1,000 fee) and pass fire/code inspections.

1) Complete the Chemung County Certificate of Registration form and submit it to the County Treasurer to obtain a Certificate of Authority for occupancy tax. 2) In the City of Elmira, file the Rental Housing Registration Form with Code Enforcement within 90 days of operation and pay the $125 fee; if applicable, apply for probationary certification ($1,000 fee) and pass fire/code inspections.

Vrbo is permitted in Chemung County, NY under the same restrictions that apply to Airbnb — local rules govern the rental itself, not the specific platform. You must hold a valid permit before hosting on Vrbo. Last verified 2026-05-14.

Short-term rental hosts in Chemung County are typically responsible for lodging, occupancy, and applicable sales taxes — these usually apply even where hosting is allowed without a permit. Rates and remittance rules vary by jurisdiction (state, county, and city can each levy a share); confirm the current rates with the official source linked on this page. Platforms such as Airbnb and Vrbo collect some taxes automatically, but the host remains liable for any not collected on their behalf.

We are not currently tracking any recent short-term rental ordinance changes for Chemung County. STR rules change frequently — verify the current requirements with the city or county before listing, using the official source linked on this page.