02-04-2025
Buffalo Common Council approves restrictions on short-term rentals
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — The Buffalo Common Council approved changes to rules for short-term rentals in the city, which comes after city leaders temporarily halted new applications in December of last year.
The changes include restrictions on where people can operate short-term rentals, such as Airbnbs, in the future if they do not reside on that property.
The new changes state that any non-owner-occupied rentals are banned from residential zones. The owners of those properties are also required to reside in Buffalo or designate an agent or managing company.
In October of last year, city leaders proposed the temporary ban on new applications for short-term rental spaces as they looked for ways to balance the preservation of neighborhoods with an increase in Airbnbs.
At the time, Buffalo Common Council Member Mitch Nowakowski said there were countless complaints from residents saying the neighborhoods were becoming 'less residential.' He also said areas that have seen an increase in short-term rentals have also seen a rise in 311 and 911 calls.
The amendment said that the changes do not apply to existing short-term rentals currently operating with a legal license.
Click here to see Buffalo's zoning map.
See all of the new changes in the ordinance amendment below.
Ordinance-Amendment-for-Chapter-380-Short-Term-Rental-HousingDownload
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