Goshen, New York Short Term Rental Regulations Guide for Airbnb hosts

Overview: STR Status in Goshen, NY

Short-term rentals are prohibited in the Town of Goshen, New York. The Town Board unanimously voted 4-0 on July 10, 2025, to ban short-term rentals across all zoning districts. This prohibition effectively prevents properties within Goshen town limits from being listed on platforms like Airbnb and Vrbo.

What do Airbnb hosts actually earn in Goshen?

Goshen hosts earn a median $38,576/year with $320 ADR and 47% occupancy.

Top performers pull in $61,559+ per year.

See the full Goshen market breakdown

How to Start a Short-Term Rental Business in This Market

Direct Answer: You cannot legally operate a short-term rental business within the Town of Goshen. The ban applies to all zoning districts and makes it unlawful to rent property for lodging periods of 31 consecutive days or less. This applies regardless of whether the property is owner-occupied or operated by an absentee landlord.

Alternative Investment Strategies:

Consider neighboring municipalities that may allow STRs (research needed)
Explore traditional long-term rental opportunities in Goshen
Investigate bed-and-breakfast operations, which are specifically excluded from the ban
Look into hospitality businesses that fall outside the STR definition

Required Documents, Permits, Licenses, and Guidelines

Current Requirements: None for STRs - The town has implemented a complete prohibition rather than a permit system.

Historical Context:

The town previously considered a permit system via "Introductory Local Law No. 13 of 2024"
Earlier drafts discussed requiring a Short-Term Rental Permit
The final enacted law eliminated the permit approach in favor of prohibition

Excluded Business Types (Still Legal):

Bed-and-breakfast establishments
Boarding/rooming houses
Hotels and motels
Month-to-month tenancies

Specific Regulations by Jurisdiction

Town of Goshen - STR Ban (Enacted July 2025)

Definition: Short-term rental is defined as "any portion of real property rented for compensation in exchange for lodging for a period of not more than 31 consecutive days."

Prohibition Scope: Complete ban across all zoning districts

Enforcement Mechanisms:

Code enforcement office investigates complaints
Appearance tickets issued for violations
Escalating fines to encourage compliance
Courts can impose fines and, in severe cases, imprisonment
Direct prosecution path through town code enforcement

Rationale for Ban:

Noise complaints
Parking issues
Crime concerns
Trash management problems
Septic system overload
Inadequate fire protection
Exceeding occupancy limits

Orange County - Registration and Tax Requirements

Registration System: Orange County has established a registration system for short-term rental units through Local Law Intro No. 7 of 2025.

Registry Requirements:

County Commissioner of Finance authorized to promulgate registration regulations
Consistent with New York Real Property Law §447-c
Must register as a "covered jurisdiction" under state law

Tax Implications:

County can impose tax on short-term rental occupancy under NY Tax Law §1200
Continues hotel/motel room tax authority
Registration required for tax compliance

Legal Definition: "Short term rental unit" includes houses, apartments, condominiums, cooperatives, cabins, cottages, bungalows, or similar furnished living units where sleeping accommodations are provided for paying occupants who are transients or travelers.

New York State - Registry and Tax Requirements

State Registry: New York has created a statewide short-term rental registry to ensure municipalities receive appropriate tax revenue and have accurate owner contact information.

State Requirements:

Registration for all STR units
Tax collection and remittance
Accurate contact information for enforcement
Compliance with Article 12-D of Real Property Law

Local Authority: While the state has created the registry framework, local municipalities retain significant authority to regulate or prohibit STRs within their jurisdictions.

Contact Information for Local Authorities

Town of Goshen

Physical Address: 41 Webster Avenue, Goshen, NY 10924
Phone: (845) 294-6250
Fax: (845) 291-3673
Website: townofgoshen.org/
Key Departments:

Building & Zoning: townofgoshen.org/building-zoning/
Code Enforcement: Contact through main number
Town Clerk: townofgoshen.org/town-clerk/

Orange County

Physical Address: 255 Main Street, Goshen, NY 10924
Commissioner of Finance: Authority over STR registration
Public Hearing Location: County Executive's Office, 3rd Floor
Website: www.orangecountygov.com/

Key Source Documents and Links

Goshen STR Ban Confirmation:
www.chroniclenewspaper.com/news/local-news/town-bans-short-term-rentals-KK4840378
Town of Goshen Official STR Law Page:
townofgoshen.org/introductory-local-law-no-13-of-2024/
Orange County STR Registration Law:
www.orangecountygov.com/DocumentCenter/View/35247/Local-Law-Intro-No-7-of-2025-PDF
Meeting Documentation - Draft Prohibition Discussion:
citizenportal.ai/articles/6567924/Goshen/Orange-County/New-York/Town-attorney-presents-draft-prohibiting-short-term-rentals-public-split-between-prohibition-and-regulated-permit-approach
State Registry Implementation Discussion:
citizenportal.ai/articles/6635962/Goshen/Orange-County/New-York/Residents-urge-strict-rules-contactability-and-enforcement-as-state-creates-shortterm-rental-registry

Important Investment Considerations

Market Reality: The Town of Goshen has explicitly chosen prohibition over regulation, making STR investments within town limits illegal and unenforceable.

Legal Risk: Operating an STR in Goshen would result in code violations, fines, and potential criminal charges.

Alternative Approaches: Consider neighboring municipalities that may allow regulated STRs, or explore traditional rental investments within Goshen that comply with local zoning laws.

Compliance Requirements: While Goshen prohibits STRs, Orange County and New York State still maintain registration and tax requirements for any legal STR operations that might occur in areas where permitted.

Enforcement Priority: The ban includes strong enforcement mechanisms with complaint investigation, appearance tickets, and escalating penalties, indicating the town's commitment to eliminating STR activity within its boundaries.

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Ask the AI Advisor about Goshen

Goshen is a small village and the seat of Orange County, New York, set in the rolling countryside of the lower Hudson Valley roughly sixty miles northwest of New York City. With a village population of about five thousand residents, Goshen has a quiet, walkable character anchored by a tree-lined historic downtown, a town green, and a strong equestrian tradition that has shaped its identity for nearly two centuries. The village is best known as a center of harness racing heritage and as a convenient base for travelers exploring the Hudson Valley, the lower Catskills, and the many outlets and family attractions that dot the surrounding countryside. Its position along major roadways makes it a natural stopover between New York City, the Delaware Water Gap, and the wider Orange County tourism region.

A short walk from the village center brings visitors to the Harness Racing Museum & Hall of Fame, a museum dedicated to the sport of harness racing and the Standardbred horse. Just minutes from the museum sits the Goshen Historic Track, a beloved half-mile oval that has hosted harness racing since 1838 and remains one of the oldest active tracks in the country, drawing crowds each summer and fall for seasonal meets. Together, these two institutions give the village a distinctive identity within the Hudson Valley, and they are the reason Goshen is often called the "Cradle of the Trotter."

About ten minutes south of the village, LEGOLAND New York Resort has added a major family-friendly anchor to the region since opening in 2021, with themed rides, shows, and a resort hotel that draw visitors from across the Northeast. A short drive in the other direction brings travelers to the village of Sugar Loaf, a small artisan community of converted barns and studios where painters, woodworkers, and craftspeople sell their work year-round, giving visitors an easy taste of the creative, rural side of the Hudson Valley just a few miles from Goshen.

For those looking to venture a bit farther, the wider Orange County area offers the Storm King Art Center, a celebrated outdoor sculpture park about thirty-five minutes south, as well as the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, roughly half an hour to the southeast, and Woodbury Common Premium Outlets, located a short ten-minute drive south in Central Valley. The Catskill Mountains begin just thirty minutes to the northwest, opening up hiking, skiing, and small-town exploration.

Goshen's combination of small-town charm, equestrian heritage, and proximity to LEGOLAND, Woodbury Common, West Point, and the lower Catskills makes it a versatile base for short-term rentals, appealing to families, weekenders escaping the city, and visitors touring the Hudson Valley. Its position within an hour of New York City, paired with its walkable historic core and easy access to major regional draws, gives the village broad year-round appeal for travelers seeking a quieter, more pastoral alternative to staying in larger gateway towns.

Goshen, New York

Unfriendly To Investors

STR Regulations for Goshen, New York