Short-Term Rental Laws in Saratoga Springs, New York

Saratoga Springs operates a 2-tier permit system: Hosted STR (operator present during rental; permitted in all residential zones), and Unhosted STR (whole-unit rental; limited to specific zoning districts — primarily Transect-6 (T-6) Urban Core, T-5 General Urban, and Mixed-Use districts; prohibited in single-family residential T-3 districts except for grandfathered properties). The summer racing season (late July–early September at Saratoga Race Course) drives extreme seasonal demand and the city ordinance was designed to balance that against residential character protection.

Saratoga Springs uses a form-based code (Smart Growth transect zoning): T-3 Sub-Urban, T-4 General Urban, T-5 Urban Center, T-6 Urban Core, plus Special Districts. Unhosted STRs allowed in T-4, T-5, T-6, and Special/Mixed-Use Districts; prohibited in T-3 (the bulk of single-family residential neighborhoods) without a grandfathered license. Hosted STRs (host present) allowed in all transects. Verify the parcel's transect assignment via the City Planning Department before any offer — the T-3 vs T-4 line is the decisive gate.

Operators must hold a short-term rental permit before listing. See the official permit portal.

Saratoga Springs Building Department + Code Enforcement administer the permit program with annual renewal. $250 permit fee. Application requires proof of insurance, designated 24/7 local contact, life-safety self-certification, parking plan, and a "neighbor notification" requirement (notice mailed to abutting properties). Operating without a permit: $500 first violation escalating to $1,500+ for repeat violations. Saratoga County separately collects the 1% county occupancy tax.

Combined short-term lodging tax in Saratoga Springs is approximately 12.000% of gross nightly revenue (state sales + state TRT + local TRT + applicable resort/city options).

NY State sales 4% + Saratoga County sales 3% + Saratoga County occupancy tax 1% + City of Saratoga Springs occupancy tax 4% — combined ~12.0% on transient lodging

Verify the current combined rate via the Utah State Tax Commission before remitting — rates drift quarterly.