Short-Term Rental Regulations
in St. James, NY

Airbnb listings are allowed in St. James, NY, but with restrictions. Non-owner-occupied residential dwellings must be registered with the Town; the property must be rented in its entirety with no partitions for multiple units. Suffolk County requires registration for occupancy tax collection and remittance for rentals under 30 days. 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.

Non-owner-occupied residential dwellings must be registered with the Town; the property must be rented in its entirety with no partitions for multiple units. Suffolk County requires registration for occupancy tax collection and remittance for rentals under 30 days.

Yes, a permit is required to operate a short-term rental in St. James. 1. Register the non-owner-occupied dwelling with the Town of Smithtown Rental Property Registry and pay the $100 annual fee. 2. Register with the Suffolk County Comptroller to obtain a Certificate of Authority for occupancy tax collection and remittance.

1. Register the non-owner-occupied dwelling with the Town of Smithtown Rental Property Registry and pay the $100 annual fee. 2. Register with the Suffolk County Comptroller to obtain a Certificate of Authority for occupancy tax collection and remittance.

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