Short-Term Rental Regulations
in Erie County, NY

Airbnb listings are allowed in Erie County, NY, but with restrictions. Erie County imposes a 3% hotel/occupancy tax and requires a Certificate of Registration with the County Comptroller. Municipalities within the county add further restrictions: Buffalo requires a Short-Term Rental License with zoning limits in specific districts (N-4-30s/N-4-50s), while Amherst requires rental-unit registration with higher fees for non-owner-occupied units ($500 vs $250). 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.

Erie County imposes a 3% hotel/occupancy tax and requires a Certificate of Registration with the County Comptroller. Municipalities within the county add further restrictions: Buffalo requires a Short-Term Rental License with zoning limits in specific districts (N-4-30s/N-4-50s), while Amherst requires rental-unit registration with higher fees for non-owner-occupied units ($500 vs $250).

Yes, a permit is required to operate a short-term rental in Erie County. 1) File a Certificate of Registration with the Erie County Comptroller within three days of opening for tax purposes. 2) Apply for a local Short-Term Rental License or registration through your specific municipality's permit portal (e.g., Buffalo or Amherst). 3) Pay required local fees and pass any required safety inspections by the local Code Enforcement Officer.

1) File a Certificate of Registration with the Erie County Comptroller within three days of opening for tax purposes. 2) Apply for a local Short-Term Rental License or registration through your specific municipality's permit portal (e.g., Buffalo or Amherst). 3) Pay required local fees and pass any required safety inspections by the local Code Enforcement Officer.

Vrbo is permitted in Erie 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 Erie 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 Erie County. STR rules change frequently — verify the current requirements with the city or county before listing, using the official source linked on this page.