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Red Hook, NY

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STR Regulations for Red Hook, New York

Overview: Are Short-Term Rentals Allowed in Red Hook, NY?

YES — Short-term rentals are explicitly allowed in Red Hook, NY, under specific regulations and requirements. The Town of Red Hook has established a comprehensive regulatory framework through Chapter 112 (Short-Term Rentals) and Chapter 143 (Zoning) of the Town Code, which permits various types of STR operations including hosted, un-hosted, and farm stay STRs, subject to strict compliance requirements.

What do Airbnb hosts actually earn in Red Hook?

Red Hook hosts earn a median $34,341/year with $337 ADR and 45% occupancy.

Top performers pull in $54,765+ per year.

See the full Red Hook market breakdown

How to Start a Short-Term Rental Business in Red Hook

Step 1: Determine Property Eligibility

  • Primary Residence Requirement: Except for farm stay STRs, you may only operate an STR on your primary residence parcel
  • Single Property Limit: Property owners may only operate one STR parcel in the Town
  • Ownership Structure: Must be owned by natural persons (trust beneficiaries may qualify under specific conditions)
  • Zoning Compliance: STRs are allowed as accessory uses to single-family detached dwellings

Step 2: Choose Your STR Type

  • Hosted STR: Property owner present overnight with guests
  • Un-hosted STR: Property owner not present overnight
  • Farm Stay STR: On AB District property (may include adjacent RD3/RD5 parcels)
  • Registered STR: One-time exception for un-hosted STRs in primary residence (limited to one time per year, under 30 days)

Step 3: Complete Application Process

  • Submit Annual STR Permit Application to the Building & Zoning Department
  • Renewal applications may be submitted on or after October 1st for following calendar year
  • Permits expire December 31st annually and must be renewed

Required Documents, Permits, Licenses, and Guidelines

Essential Documents

  • Property Tax Record or Current Deed: Proof of ownership
  • Floor Plan: Showing all bedrooms and identifying those for STR use, with square footage, ceiling height, and two means of egress
  • Sketch Map: Location of off-street parking spaces on the property
  • Primary Residence Evidence: STAR exemption or combination of supporting documents (voter registration, driver's license, federal tax return)

Permits and Licenses

  • Annual Operating Permit: Required for all STR operations (hosted, un-hosted, farm stay)
  • Zoning Approval: Required under Chapter 143 if applicable
  • Certificate of Occupancy: Must be current or building inspection required
  • County Registration: Registration with Dutchess County (automatically provided to County upon permit approval)

Safety and Compliance Requirements

  • Smoke Detectors: Functioning detectors in each STR bedroom
  • Carbon Monoxide Detectors: Functioning CO detectors on each floor
  • Fire Extinguisher: Functioning fire extinguisher on each floor
  • Emergency Equipment: Two safe means of ingress/egress per bedroom
  • Safety/Egress Plan: Posted visibly inside STR and on bedroom doors

Specific Regulations for Short-Term Rentals in Red Hook

Occupancy Limits

  • Maximum 2 guests per bedroom (children under 6 years do not count toward maximum)
  • Hosted STR: Maximum 4 bedrooms or one bedroom (R1.5, R1, H Districts limited to one hosted bedroom)
  • Farm Stay STR: Specific limits under AB District regulations

Day Limits

  • Hosted STR (one bedroom only): Maximum 210 days per year
  • All other STRs: Maximum 120 days per year
  • Registered STR: Maximum one time per calendar year for fewer than 30 days

Parking Requirements

  • Base Requirement: Two off-street parking spaces for single-family dwelling
  • Additional Spaces: Each rented STR bedroom requires an additional space
  • Location: All spaces must be on the same parcel as the STR

Local Contact Requirements

For non-hosted or farm stay STRs, provide either:

  • Owner's temporary address if staying within 15 air miles of Red Hook
  • Local contact (18+ years old) who can respond within one hour to emergencies/complaints

Prohibited Activities

  • Events and Gatherings: No parties, weddings, meetings, banquets, or similar activities
  • Commercial Operations: No restaurant operation or meal service to non-rental occupants
  • Temporary Structures: No recreational vehicles, tents, treehouses, or similar as STRs

Posting Requirements

Must post at all times during STR use:

  1. STR Permit Number
  2. Chapter 92 (Noise) Code copy
  3. Safety/egress plan
  4. Property map showing boundaries
  5. Waste/recycling facilities location and pickup dates

Tax Obligations

  • Hotel Occupancy Tax: Payment required to Dutchess County
  • Sales and Use Taxes: Collection and remittance as required by state law
  • Platform Compliance: Airbnb and other platforms may collect and remit on your behalf

Noise Control Compliance

  • Quiet Hours: 10:00 PM to 7:00 AM (specific restrictions apply)
  • Sound Limits: 65 dBA (7 AM-10 PM), 50 dBA (10 PM-7 AM) in residential areas
  • Prohibited Activities: No sound equipment between 10 PM-7 AM (except emergencies)

Zoning Restrictions

  • STR Prohibition: Not allowed in addition to accessory dwelling units or Class 2 home occupations
  • Limited Permitted Home Occupations: Only one Class 1 home occupation permitted with STR

Record Keeping Requirements

  • Rental Records: Maintain comprehensive logs of all STR rentals
  • Retention Period: Keep records for at least 3 years
  • Inspection Access: Must be available to Zoning Enforcement Officer upon request
  • Required Information: Dates rented, number of bedrooms rented, number of guests

Violation Consequences

  • Automatic Disqualification: No permits for properties with outstanding violations or suspended/revoked permits
  • Penalties: Fine and/or imprisonment as provided in Chapter 112
  • Habitual Violations: Properties with two or more violations in two-year period preceding application year are ineligible

Contact Information

Town of Red Hook Building & Zoning Department

  • Address: 7340 South Broadway, Red Hook, NY 12571
  • Phone: 845.758.4623 or 845.758.4603
  • Emails:
  • Website: www.redhookny.gov
  • Zoning Enforcement Officer: Available for permit review and approval
  • Code Enforcement Officer: Handles compliance and inspections

Source Links

Additional Considerations for Investors

Market Implications

  • Limited Inventory: Only primary residences allowed except farm stays
  • Seasonal Considerations: Day limits require strategic planning for maximum utilization
  • Regulatory Compliance: Ongoing oversight and record-keeping requirements

Investment Strategy

  • Hosted vs. Un-hosted: Hosted STRs allow higher day limits (210 vs. 120 days)
  • Farm Stay Opportunities: AB District properties offer unique farm-based STR possibilities
  • Location Selection: R1.5, R1, and H Districts have additional bedroom restrictions

Compliance Monitoring

  • Regular Inspections: Annual permit renewal requires ongoing compliance
  • Neighbor Relations: STR operations must maintain residential character
  • Tax Remittance: Accurate and timely tax payment to avoid violations

This comprehensive regulatory framework reflects Red Hook's balance between allowing short-term rental opportunities while protecting residential neighborhood character and addressing community concerns about transient housing use.

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Red Hook

Market Saturation Score

036912
Mild Saturation
3/ 12
months with declining YoY revenue
2–4 declining months: early saturation pressure - watch for trend persistence.
View Full Red Hook Market Analysis

Photos of Red Hook

Overview of Red Hook

Red Hook is a small town in Dutchess County, in New York's Hudson Valley region, with an approximate population of around 9,000 residents spread between the village of Red Hook and a handful of hamlets including Tivoli and Barrytown. The town is known for its rural, agrarian character, rolling farmland, and a slow-paced village atmosphere that contrasts with the bustle of downstate New York. Long a gateway to the upper Hudson Valley's scenic landscapes and historic estates, Red Hook sits roughly ninety miles north of New York City, reached in about two hours by car via the Taconic State Parkway or the New York State Thruway.

A short drive south of Red Hook, in neighboring Hyde Park, sits the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum, the first presidential library built in the United States. About fifteen minutes from the village center, the site offers tours of Roosevelt's home, gardens, and burial site, along with extensive exhibits on the New Deal era and World War II. Just down the road, the Vanderbilt Mansion National Historic Site presents a Beaux-Arts riverside estate once occupied by Frederick William Vanderbilt, with formal gardens and Hudson River shoreline that visitors can explore on ranger-led tours.

In the same Hyde Park corridor, the Culinary Institute of America main campus functions almost like a small village of its own, with student-run and public restaurants such as The Bocuse Restaurant and American Bounty serving as a draw for food travelers. Red Hook itself shares a quiet border with the village of Rhinebeck, about ten minutes to the west, a quintessential Hudson Valley town known for its tree-lined main street, independent shops, and weekend farmers' market that has grown into a regional foodie destination.

For outdoor sightseeing, the Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park in Poughkeepsie is roughly twenty-five minutes from Red Hook, featuring a converted nineteenth-century railroad bridge that carries pedestrians and cyclists nearly two hundred feet above the river. Aviation enthusiasts, meanwhile, often head to the Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome just north of Rhinebeck, a living museum of antique aircraft that hosts weekend airshows with biplane rides and barnstorming demonstrations. Families traveling with children also tend to find the nearby farms and pick-your-own orchards between Red Hook and Tivoli a defining part of the visit, with the surrounding Dutchess County countryside offering tasting rooms, farm stands, and a slow-paced sense of the valley that has drawn weekenders for generations.

Red Hook's appeal for short-term rentals lies in this combination of quiet, unspoiled rural character and easy access to a dense cluster of historic estates, culinary destinations, and outdoor landmarks across the mid-Hudson Valley. The town offers travelers a calmer base than busier Hudson Valley hubs like Rhinebeck or Poughkeepsie, while keeping those destinations — and the wider region stretching north toward the Catskills and west toward Kingston — within a short and scenic drive.

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