Geneva Short-Term Rental Regulations

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Permit & Licensing

Short-Term Rental License

This permit type does not require primary residence. Zoning restriction: Code Ch. 215, Art. IV, §215-25 et seq.; Zoning Ch. 350 §350-7.18.

Application Process

Apply entirely online via the Deckard STR portal (portal.deckard.com/ny-ontario-city_of_geneva-str-portal). A separate application and license fee is required for each dwelling unit. The application requires owner information, a signed/notarized affidavit (smoke/CO-detector compliance, parking-zoning compliance, no outstanding City taxes/fees, general Code compliance), a scaled site plan, a public-sewer statement, and a 24/7 local contact person able to respond to complaints within 45 minutes. The Code Enforcement Office has 60 days to review the application and issue or deny the license (with reasons); a property inspection (owner/manager present) verifies sleeping room count and parking-space adequacy before the license is issued.

Tax Obligations

Combined rate: 10.5% of gross rental income.

Collection: City Room Occupancy Tax: the operator registers with the City Comptroller (no-charge Certificate of Registration/Authority) and collects the 3% tax from occupants as trustee for the City, stated and charged separately from the rent. State/county sales tax: collected by the operator, or by the booking service if one facilitates the rental.

Filing: Quarterly

Rental Limits

Geneva does not impose an annual cap on the number of nights you can rent.

Occupancy & Density Limits

Maximum 10 occupants per short-term rental (the lesser of 10 people or the bedroom-based capacity set by International Building Code §PM 404.4.1), in effect 24 hours a day

Zoning & Restrictions

• No STR-specific permitted-zoning-district list; short-term rentals are regulated as an additional use standard applicable citywide (Zoning Code §350-7.18), subject to: sufficient off-street parking per §350-8.4, a 4-bedroom rental cap, a 10-person occupancy cap, and a prohibition in dwelling units subject to affordable-housing covenants or income restrictions.
• Site plan review/conditions may apply where required by the applicable zoning district.

Insurance & Safety

Insurance

Geneva does not require short-term rental operators to carry specific insurance. Standard homeowner policies often exclude short-term rental activity, so many hosts obtain dedicated short-term rental or landlord liability coverage.

Safety & Operating Requirements

• Compliance with NYS Code R314.3 (smoke alarm) and FC 915 (carbon monoxide detector locations), certified by a signed, notarized owner affidavit
• Pre-license property inspection by City Code Enforcement Office verifying NYS code compliance, sleeping room count, and off-street parking adequacy
• Quiet hours 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.; a notice of quiet hours/no-unreasonable-noise must be prominently displayed in any outdoor gathering area (yard, porch, patio, deck, pool area)
• Current STR license must be conspicuously posted inside the unit near the front entrance / in a common entrance

Penalties for Non-Compliance

• 1st violation (3 noise/nuisance/parking complaints within 12 months, or failure to remedy a cited violation within the notice period): license immediately suspended for 60 days
• 2nd violation: license suspended for an additional 120 days
• 3rd violation: license immediately revoked for that owner and dwelling unit; owner barred from reapplying for 2 years
• Operating without a license: 72-hour written warning to cease; continued or renewed unlicensed operation after 72 hours is a violation subject to the penalties below
• General Code violation: fine not exceeding $250 and/or imprisonment not exceeding 15 days; each day a violation continues is a separate violation (Code §1-17)
• Room Occupancy Tax: late filing/payment penalty of 5% of the tax due plus 1% interest per month of delay; willful violations (failure to register, collect, remit, or file; false statements) are a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $1,000 and/or up to 1 year imprisonment (Code §318-62)

Platform Requirements

Booking services (e.g., Airbnb, Vrbo) that facilitate short-term rental occupancy sales in New York State must collect and remit state/local sales tax on the occupancy charge. Under City of Geneva Code §215-28D, if a platform fails to collect and remit applicable taxes and fees, the property owner remains responsible for payment.

Market Snapshot

Demand context for Geneva from official government and tourism statistics — the latest published annual figures, not a projection of rental income.

Figures are the latest annual statistics published by the linked official sources (retrieved 2026-07-13). Visitor counts cover the geography stated by each source, which can be wider than the city itself. Regulations above — not market conditions — determine whether and how you may operate.

Compliance Checklist

Follow these steps to legally operate a short-term rental in Geneva:

1. Meet safety requirements. Compliance with NYS Code R314.3 (smoke alarm) and FC 915 (carbon monoxide detector locations), certified by a signed, notarized owner affidavit. Pre-license property inspection by City Code Enforcement Office verifying NYS code compliance, sleeping room count, and off-street parking adequacy. Quiet hours 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.; a notice of quiet hours/no-unreasonable-noise must be prominently displayed in any outdoor gathering area (yard, porch, patio, deck, pool area). Current STR license must be conspicuously posted inside the unit near the front entrance / in a common entrance.
2. Apply for Short-Term Rental License. Submit application + $250/bedroom fee.
3. Register for tax accounts. Set up lodging tax accounts with City of Geneva Comptroller; NYS Department of Taxation and Finance.
4. Collect and remit taxes. 10.5% on all bookings.
5. Renew every 2 years. $250/bedroom renewal fee.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you need a permit to run an Airbnb in Geneva?

Yes. Operating a short-term rental — including an Airbnb or Vrbo — in Geneva requires a Short-Term Rental License.

Does Geneva require a short-term rental to be your primary residence?

No. Geneva allows non-owner-occupied short-term rentals, so investment properties can qualify provided you hold the required permit.

How many days a year can you short-term rent in Geneva?

Geneva does not cap the number of nights per year you can short-term rent, though permitting, zoning, and occupancy rules still apply.

What taxes do you pay on a short-term rental in Geneva?

Short-term rental stays in Geneva are subject to a combined 10.5% in lodging taxes. This combines 7.5% New York State & Ontario County Sales Tax + 3% City of Geneva Room Occupancy Tax. Hosts are legally responsible; many booking platforms collect and remit them automatically on the host's behalf.

What are the penalties for short-term rental violations in Geneva?

Penalties run up to $1,000 (see the Penalties section for the full schedule).