Short-Term Rental Regulations
in Tompkins County, NY

Airbnb listings are allowed in Tompkins County, NY, but with restrictions. Tompkins County requires registration of every short-term rental unit and sets health/safety and insurance requirements (posted evacuation diagram, working fire extinguisher, emergency contact list, $300,000 minimum liability insurance) and room occupancy tax collection; municipalities within the county may impose additional limits—e.g., City of Ithaca permits STRs only in single-family, two-unit, and owner-occupied units and requires the property be the host's primary residence (reside ≥184 days/year) and a Certificate of Compliance. County registration + municipal operating-permit/residency rules together restrict STR use. 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.

Tompkins County requires registration of every short-term rental unit and sets health/safety and insurance requirements (posted evacuation diagram, working fire extinguisher, emergency contact list, $300,000 minimum liability insurance) and room occupancy tax collection; municipalities within the county may impose additional limits—e.g., City of Ithaca permits STRs only in single-family, two-unit, and owner-occupied units and requires the property be the host's primary residence (reside ≥184 days/year) and a Certificate of Compliance. County registration + municipal operating-permit/residency rules together restrict STR use.

Yes, a permit is required to operate a short-term rental in Tompkins County. 1) County: register each STR unit using the Tompkins County Short Term Registry Form and pay the $125 registration fee; a Certificate of Authority will be issued (valid two years). 2) If located in the City of Ithaca: obtain/maintain a Certificate of Compliance (inspection), gather two proofs of primary residency, register for and obtain a City Certificate of Authority for occupancy tax, then apply for the City short-term rental operating permit via OpenGov; City fees: $100 non-refundable application fee (applied to permit) and $400 annual permit fee. 3) Provide a local contact (name, phone, email) able to respond within 60 minutes and comply with stated health/safety requirements and tax remittance.

1) County: register each STR unit using the Tompkins County Short Term Registry Form and pay the $125 registration fee; a Certificate of Authority will be issued (valid two years). 2) If located in the City of Ithaca: obtain/maintain a Certificate of Compliance (inspection), gather two proofs of primary residency, register for and obtain a City Certificate of Authority for occupancy tax, then apply for the City short-term rental operating permit via OpenGov; City fees: $100 non-refundable application fee (applied to permit) and $400 annual permit fee. 3) Provide a local contact (name, phone, email) able to respond within 60 minutes and comply with stated health/safety requirements and tax remittance.

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