Ithaca’s new short-term rental policy, aimed at tightening oversight and boosting housing availability, will be fully enforced starting June 1.
Key components of the law include requiring rental hosts to live on-site, pass a safety inspection, pay occupancy and sales taxes, and submit a $400 annual fee. Rentals must also be listed under an individual’s name—not a corporation—and display a valid permit number online. Violators face fines up to $500 per day and a three-year permit ban.
Supporters say the policy could ease housing shortages by discouraging long-term rentals being converted into tourist stays. Critics argue it burdens homeowners who rely on short-term income to afford living in Ithaca.
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