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.

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

1. Goshen STR Ban Confirmation:
   www.chroniclenewspaper.com/news/local-news/town-bans-short-term-rentals-KK4840378

2. Town of Goshen Official STR Law Page:
   townofgoshen.org/introductory-local-law-no-13-of-2024/

3. Orange County STR Registration Law:
   www.orangecountygov.com/DocumentCenter/View/35247/Local-Law-Intro-No-7-of-2025-PDF

4. 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

5. 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.