Can I Airbnb in Garden City? 2026 Short-Term Rental Rules

Is Airbnb legal in Garden City?

Traditional short-term (sub-30-day/nightly) Airbnb/VRBO-style rental operations are effectively banned in Garden City, NY. The Incorporated Village of Garden City enacted Local Law No. 1-2023, which prohibits 'Transient Dwelling Units' — any property advertised or rented on platforms like Airbnb, HomeAway, or VRBO for fewer than 30 consecutive days. Advertising alone creates a rebuttable presumption of violation. The Village ordinance is codified in Article VII of the Village Zoning Code and is actively enforced by the Superintendent of Buildings. The underlying Town of Hempstead's 2017 ordinance (28-day minimum) would apply to unincorporated areas of the town, but the Village's more restrictive 30-day rule controls within the Village limits. Nassau County adds a 4.25% county sales tax on any rental stays, stacking with the 4% NYS sales tax and 5% NYS occupancy tax for a total of 13.25% on lawful 30+ day rentals. New York State's 2025 STR Registry law (S.885C) adds a state-level registration and tax-remittance framework but explicitly does not preempt local bans. Platform rules further constrain illegal listing. The practical result: a property in the Village CANNOT be legally operated as a nightly STR. Only medium-term rentals of 30 days or longer are permissible. Political risk is high: Garden City is an affluent, owner-occupied residential village with a strong institutional interest in preserving neighborhood character; no loosening of the Village's STR ban is likely.