Overview

• Short‑term rentals are allowed in Craryville, New York, which is in the Town of Hillsdale, Columbia County.
• Craryville has no separate town/village of its own; local STR oversight runs through Hillsdale’s permitting and Columbia County’s tax registration.
• You must comply with county occupancy tax (4%), county STR registration, Hillsdale special permit and certificate, and New York State STR registration and sales tax.

How to start a short‑term rental business in this market

1. Register with Columbia County for STR tax purposes (you’ll receive a registration number you’ll need later).
2. Confirm the property’s zoning and building compliance in the Town of Hillsdale.
3. Apply for and obtain Hillsdale’s Special Permit (Zoning Board of Appeals) and Certificate of Occupancy/Compliance (Building Inspector).
4. Prepare for inspections and maintain code compliance.
5. Designate and provide a local contact who lives within 20 miles and can respond at all times.
6. List and operate: collect the 4% Columbia County occupancy tax, the NYS sales tax, and remit on schedule. Maintain compliance records and respond promptly to neighbor and code issues.

Required documents, permits, licenses, and guidelines

• Columbia County STR Registration

  • Who must register: any individual or business renting a building or rooms for fewer than 30 consecutive days in Columbia County.
  • Separate registration required for each address.
  • Registration is required every two years; notify the county of any changes.
  • Use your registration number to access the online tax portal for payments.
  • You can register through the county’s online form; email is the primary method of contact for your registration.

• Town of Hillsdale (Craryville area) Transient Rental Requirements

  • Special Permit ($50): obtained from the Zoning Board of Appeals.
  • Certificate of Occupancy or Certificate of Compliance ($150): obtained from the Building Inspector after inspection.
  • Inspection: required to ensure compliance with the NYS Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code; you are responsible for inspection fees.
  • Local Contact: owner must provide current information for a local contact person who resides within 20 miles and is available at all times to respond to complaints and emergencies. If the owner’s principal residence is outside Columbia County, the local contact (or another county resident agent) must be designated as agent for service of legal process and notices.
  • Good neighbor provisions; Special Permits are non-transferable (new owner must reapply).
  • Registration renewal appears to be annual for Hillsdale (confirm with the Code Enforcement Officer).

• New York State Rules (apply statewide)

  • NYS Short‑Term Rental registration: effective in 2025, New York State requires STRs to register through the county prior to listing. Platforms must verify hosts’ registration numbers before listing.
  • NYS Sales Tax: applicable to STR bookings beginning in 2025; collected and remitted separately to NYS.
  • Multiple Dwelling Law: renting for fewer than 30 days is prohibited in buildings with three or more units, unless the owner is present. Single‑family homes and owner‑occupied units are not subject to this prohibition.
  • Always verify the latest state requirements and any state‑level forms with the NYS Department of Taxation and Finance and the county treasurer.

Specific regulations for short‑term rentals

• Columbia County Occupancy Tax

  • Tax rate: 4% on short‑term rentals (hotels, motels, and STRs) effective July 1, 2025.
  • Exemption: properties within the City of Hudson are excluded (they have their own occupancy tax).
  • VRBO note: rentals booked through VRBO do not remit occupancy tax to Columbia County; VRBO collects and remits it (applies only to VRBO).
  • Tax due on rentals paid after July 1, 2025. Rentals reserved and fully paid before July 1 are not subject to the county tax.
  • Payment method: online through the county portal; no platform collection agreement currently exists with Airbnb/other platforms.
  • Payments only accepted online; late payment after October 15, 2025, will incur a late fee.
  • Payment schedule (2025):
    • 3rd Quarter (June 1–Aug 31): portal open; payment due by Oct 15.
    • 4th Quarter (Sept 1–Nov 30): portal opens later; due in December.
  • Payment schedule (2026):
    • Q1 (Dec 1–Feb 28): due March 20.
    • Q2 (Mar 1–May 31): due June 20.
    • Q3 (Jun 1–Aug 31): due Sept 20.
    • Q4 (Sept 1–Nov 30): due Dec 20.
  • Annual remittance is also required through the county’s STR registration portal.

• Town of Hillsdale Transient Rental Local Law (applies to Craryville)

  • Defines transient rentals as any rental/lease for fewer than 30 days; excludes hotels, motels, inns, and bed & breakfasts.
  • Requires a $50 Special Permit (ZBA) and a $150 Certificate of Occupancy/Compliance (Building Inspector).
  • Inspection(s) required at issuance and thereafter as required by county or state law.
  • Owner must maintain a local contact (within 20 miles) available at all times.
  • Special Permits non‑transferable; “good neighbor” provisions apply.
  • Consult Hillsdale’s Local Law 2 of 2019 (Transient Rentals) for full requirements.

• New York State STR Framework

  • State registry and tax law in 2025 require hosts to register and platforms to verify registration before listing.
  • State sales tax applies to STR transactions and is collected separately from county occupancy tax.
  • Multiple Dwelling Law restricts rentals under 30 days in non‑owner‑occupied buildings with three or more units.

Contact information (local authority for STRs)

• Columbia County Treasurer (STR tax registration and occupancy tax)

  • Phone: 518‑828‑0513
  • Email: use the county contact method listed on the occupancy page
  • STR Registration Portal: provided on the county occupancy page

• Town of Hillsdale Code Enforcement Officer (Permits, inspections)

  • Contact: Lee Heim, Hillsdale’s Code Enforcement Officer
  • Phone: 518‑325‑5073 (Town of Hillsdale main number)
  • Town office address:
    • 2609 State Route 23, Hillsdale, NY 12529
    • PO Box 305, Hillsdale, NY 12529
  • Fees: $50 Special Permit (ZBA); $150 Certificate of Occupancy/Compliance (Building Inspector)

Links to source pages

• Columbia County STR Registration and Occupancy Tax: www.columbiacountyny.com/occupancy.html
• Short‑Term Rental Registration Form (Google): docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfjsf5lRHfHkZoHZlL6XbLa5lGQtmb_ilRJiMZu9FD5hQu3pA/viewform
• Columbia County STR Payment Portal: columbiany-self.govplatform.com
• Town of Hillsdale – Transient Rentals (Local Law summary and fees): hillsdaleny.com/new-regulations-for-all-transient-rentals/
• Hillsdale Transient Rentals Local Law (PDF): hillsdaleny.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Local-Law-2-2019-Transient-Rentals.pdf

Operational checklist for Craryville STRs

• Register each STR address with Columbia County; receive your registration number and set up the portal account.
• Confirm the property’s zoning with Hillsdale; verify it is allowed for transient rental use.
• Obtain the Hillsdale Special Permit (ZBA) and Certificate of Occupancy/Compliance (Building Inspector); schedule the required inspection.
• Designate a local contact within 20 miles who can respond at all times; confirm agent designation if you reside outside Columbia County.
• Implement NYS Uniform Code safety measures; maintain compliant conditions.
• Collect and remit:
  • 4% Columbia County Occupancy Tax via the county portal.
  • NYS Sales Tax on STR transactions.
• Adhere to the county payment schedule; submit taxes by due dates to avoid late fees.
• Keep records: registration numbers, permits, inspection reports, tax remittances, guest logs, and neighbor‑issue responses.
• Monitor changes to Hillsdale regulations and county/state rules; renew permits/registration on time.

Notes and caveats

• Hillsdale requires registration renewal annually; Columbia County registration is biennial (every two years). If you add/delete properties or have contact changes, notify the county promptly.
• Platform collection: only VRBO is listed as remitting occupancy tax directly to Columbia County; other platforms do not have such agreements with the county.
• City of Hudson (within Columbia County) is a separate jurisdiction with its own rules; do not assume Craryville’s rules mirror Hudson’s.
• NYS Multiple Dwelling Law: applies only to buildings with three or more units; single‑family homes and owner‑occupied units are not prohibited from renting for fewer than 30 days. If renting to a single tenant for 30 days or more, the rental may be exempt from occupancy tax and STR registration; confirm with the county treasurer if this scenario applies.