Short-Term Rental Regulations
in Franklin County, NY

Airbnb listings are allowed in Franklin County, NY, but with restrictions. Franklin County imposes a 5% room-occupancy tax on 'vacation rentals' and similar per-diem accommodations. Operators must register with the County Treasurer and obtain a certificate of authority; however, local municipalities (e.g., Saranac Lake, Malone) may impose stricter zoning, residency, and inspection requirements within their specific boundaries. 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.

Franklin County imposes a 5% room-occupancy tax on 'vacation rentals' and similar per-diem accommodations. Operators must register with the County Treasurer and obtain a certificate of authority; however, local municipalities (e.g., Saranac Lake, Malone) may impose stricter zoning, residency, and inspection requirements within their specific boundaries.

Yes, a permit is required to operate a short-term rental in Franklin County. 1) File a registration application with the Franklin County Treasurer identifying the property by tax ID or 911 address within 3 days of starting operations. 2) Receive a Certificate of Authority from the Treasurer (issued within 5 days at no charge). 3) Collect the 5% occupancy tax and maintain guest records for at least two years as per NY State law.

1) File a registration application with the Franklin County Treasurer identifying the property by tax ID or 911 address within 3 days of starting operations. 2) Receive a Certificate of Authority from the Treasurer (issued within 5 days at no charge). 3) Collect the 5% occupancy tax and maintain guest records for at least two years as per NY State law.

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