Overview: Are short‑term rentals allowed in Croghan, NY?

• The Lewis County model regulations explicitly allow short‑term rentals (STRs), provided the operator obtains a revocable Short‑Term Rental permit and maintains compliance with property, safety, occupancy, parking, insurance, waste, and signage standards.
• The Village of Croghan has drafted a new zoning law that addresses short‑term lettings, reflects community goals to protect housing availability, and signals the need for inspections and enforcement. As of the latest available documents (June 2025), the village law is in preliminary draft form, published for public comment ahead of a July 7, 2025 public hearing, and not yet enacted. Practically, operators should plan to comply with the county model regulations and monitor the village’s final adopted ordinance.

How to start a short‑term rental business in this market

1. Confirm zoning eligibility and compliance

   • Verify the property is located within the Village of Croghan and is not subject to deed restrictions or HOA prohibitions that would preclude STR use.
   • Anticipate that village zoning may classify STRs as a permitted, site‑plan‑review, or special‑permit use once adopted; follow the Village Planning Board and Zoning Enforcement Officer (ZEO) guidance if you are within village limits.

2. Review the Lewis County model STR framework

   • Use the county model regulations as the operational baseline. The model requires a two‑year revocable permit, property and life‑safety standards, occupancy limits tied to bedrooms and septic capacity, off‑road parking, and insurance.

3. Assemble application materials and fees

   • Prepare signatures of all owners; property description; designated contact person; floor plan(s); proof of septic maintenance; insurance certificates; acknowledgments of standards; and payment for nonrefundable permit fees (set by local resolution).

4. Submit to the Code Enforcement Officer (CEO)

   • File the complete application with the local Code Enforcement Office (village CEO or county code office as applicable).

5. Inspection and approval

   • Expect adjacent‑owner notification (postcard or email) and a property inspection within 30 days to confirm compliance with building, life‑safety, occupancy, and parking standards. Upon approval, a permit will be issued.

6. Maintain and renew

   • Operate in strict compliance (post permit, occupancy, parking, and contact info; maintain life‑safety devices; enforce quiet hours; manage waste); renew the permit 30 days before expiration with an inspection and fee.

7. Advertising and signage

   • Include the permit number in all advertisements; install one exterior sign (max six square feet per side, double‑sided allowed) per road frontage only after CEO review and approval.

8. Governance and appeals

   • Appeals of CEO decisions are heard by the Zoning Board of Appeals; variances for sleeping capacity, parking, or other standards go through the ZBA.

Required documents, permits, licenses, and guidelines

• Revocable Short‑Term Rental Permit (two‑year term; nontransferable; new owner must file a new application).
• Evidence of Property Insurance and Certificate of Liability Insurance specific to STR use.
• Floor plan(s): scaled, at least 8.5x11 inches, showing building layout, room uses, windows, exits, utilities, and heating/cooling units (basement, first, second floors).
• Owner signatures or designated agent authorization.
• Statement authorizing inspection.
• Contact person information (name, address, phone, email) and 24‑hour response commitment.
• List of all properties and owner details.
• Septic compliance documentation: pumping within the past four years and proof of satisfactory inspection by a qualified septic firm; ongoing pumping at least once every four years (if on septic).
• Property standards acknowledgments (smoke/CO detectors, fire extinguishers, posted evacuation procedures, electrical systems, house numbers, maximum occupancy/parking, waste management, signage, and good‑neighbor rules).
• Acknowledgment that no owner has had an STR permit revoked within the prior year.
• Permit fee (as adopted by local resolution).
• Variance documentation (if seeking relief for occupancy, parking, or other standards).

Specific regulations for short‑term rentals (village, county, and state)

Village of Croghan (preliminary draft)

• Background and process
  • The Village of Croghan Zoning Commission has developed a comprehensive zoning law and map (Residential, Village Center, Industrial, Park districts), guided by the Village’s 2012 Community Development Plan and extensive public meetings through 2024–2025.
  • The draft zoning law explicitly addresses short‑term rentals (short‑term lettings) and highlights related issues such as occupancy limits tied to approved bedroom counts, the importance of inspections and enforcement, and potential interactions with accessory dwelling units (ADUs). As of June 2025, the draft has been released for public comment ahead of a July 7, 2025 hearing.
• Draft zoning highlights relevant to STRs
  • Short‑term rentals are a recognized topic, with draft provisions indicating occupancy limits aligned to bedroom counts, and discussion points on inspections and enforcement.
  • Bed & Breakfast, inn, motel, hotel, and resort uses are defined in the draft and would be treated as separate lodging categories under zoning.
  • ADUs are provided for by the draft law and, in later drafts, reclassified to site‑plan‑review (from special‑use‑permit) to reduce permitting burdens while maintaining criteria‑based oversight.
  • Zoning permits and compliance requirements will apply once the law is enacted.

Important: The village zoning law and STR provisions are draft and may be revised. Operators should review the final adopted law and the associated permitting workflow before commencing operations.

Lewis County Model Regulations (template)

• Definitions

  • Short‑Term Rental: Any portion of real property rented for compensation for lodging for not more than 31 consecutive days. Excludes bed‑and‑breakfast, boarding/lodging houses, hotels/motels, and month‑to‑month tenancies.

• Presumption of STR use

  • Offering a property for lease on short‑term rental platforms or advertising for 31 days or less creates a presumption of STR use (rebuttable by evidence to the Code Enforcement Office).

• Permit requirements

  • Required: revocable Short‑Term Rental permit; not transferable; valid for two years; renewal 30 days before expiration with inspection and fee.
  • Existing bookings at law effective date may be honored; full permit application required within 180 days for future bookings.

• Property and life‑safety standards

  • NYS Uniform Building Code compliance.
  • Smoke detectors in each sleeping room and on each floor; carbon monoxide detectors per code.
  • Posted evacuation procedures in sleeping rooms.
  • ABC fire extinguisher on each floor and in kitchen; monthly inspection recordkeeping.
  • House numbers clearly visible from road and driveway.
  • Exterior doors operational; clear passageways.
  • Electrical systems in good condition, labeled and visible to CEO.
  • Fireplace compliance.

• Occupancy and parking

  • Maximum occupancy: two people per bedroom plus two people per minimum full‑size convertible sleeping furniture; maximum 12 people total (including permanent residents and renters).
  • If septic: occupancy limited to septic system capacity, never exceeding 12 people total.
  • Off‑road parking: minimum one space per bedroom; no more than 12 people total.

• Utilities and waste

  • Water supply must meet state requirements.
  • Septic systems must be pumped at least once every four years with proof of recent pumping and inspection.
  • Weekly garbage removal during rental periods; secured containers with tight‑fitting covers; placed out of public view except at pickup.

• Insurance

  • Maintain Evidence of Property Insurance and Certificate of Liability Insurance rated for STR use throughout the permit term.

• Signage

  • One sign allowed, maximum six square feet per side; double‑sided permitted; location, design, and dimensions require CEO approval; one sign per road frontage if access is on multiple roads.

• Good‑Neighbor requirements (must be in rental contract)

  • Respect quiet hours (11:00 p.m.–7:00 a.m.).
  • Comply with NY Penal Law §240.20 (disorderly conduct).
  • No littering; campfires must be attended.
  • Maximum occupancy and on‑site parking limits clearly stated.

• Application and review

  • Adjacent owners notified via postcard/email.
  • CEO inspection within 30 days of complete application.
  • Permit lists owner(s), contact person, occupancy limits, parking spaces, and any conditions.

• Display and advertising

  • Permit number must be posted in all advertisements.
  • Permit, occupancy limit, parking limit, contact form, and standards must be prominently displayed inside and near the front entrance.

• Compliance, penalties, and enforcement

  • Inspection authority: CEO may request entry to verify compliance; refusal leads to revocation.
  • Enforcement toolbox: attach conditions; suspend; require corrective action; issue court appearance tickets; revoke (one‑year prohibition on obtaining a new permit after revocation).
  • Violation notices by first‑class and certified mail.

• Renewal and grounds for suspension/revocation

  • Renewal requires application 30 days prior to expiration, prior permit, inspection, and proof of compliance.
  • Grounds for suspension/revocation include false information, failure to meet standards, zoning violations, Penal Law violations, public nuisance, or disrepair of safety devices.

• Appeals

  • Appeal CEO denial/revocation decisions to the Zoning Board of Appeals within 60 days; hearing within 45 days.

New York State context

• State building and fire codes apply (NYS Uniform Building Code; Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code; NYS Energy Conservation Construction Code).
• Compliance with SEQR may be required for certain development actions under 6 NYCRR Part 617.
• Municipal local laws govern zoning and permitting; the village zoning and county model serve as the primary regulatory frameworks for STRs in the Croghan area.

Contact information (phone, email, website where available)

• Lewis County Planning & Community Development Department

  • Website: lewiscountyny.gov/departments/planning-community-development/
  • Note: The Department assisted the Village of Croghan Zoning Commission; verify current contact details for code enforcement and STR permitting on the county website.

• Village of Croghan Zoning Commission / Zoning Enforcement

  • The village’s preliminary zoning report indicates operations and hearings occurred at the Croghan Free Library and that the village clerk’s office maintains zoning records and the official map. For current Code Enforcement Officer contact details and office hours, check the Village of Croghan website or contact the Village Clerk’s office (official records are typically filed with the Village Clerk).

Because phone numbers and email addresses are not listed in the provided documents, contact details should be verified directly on the Lewis County website and the Village of Croghan official website or by calling the Village Clerk’s office.

Links to source pages

• Lewis County Short-Term Rental Model Regulations (PDF)

  • lewiscountyny.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/TEMPLATE-Short-Term-Rental-Model-Regulations.pdf

• Village of Croghan Preliminary Zoning Commission Report (June 2025) (PDF)

  • lewiscountyny.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/FINAL-VCroghan-Preliminary-Report.pdf

• Village of Croghan Zoning Law (Draft, June 2025) (PDF)

  • lewiscountyny.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/FINAL-VCroghan-Preliminary-Report.pdf (contains the draft law)

• Lewis County Planning & Community Development Department

  • lewiscountyny.gov/departments/planning-community-development/

Notes for investors

• The village law is in draft form pending public hearing and adoption; treat the county model regulations as the working standard until the village ordinance is finalized.
• Permitting timelines and fees are set by local resolutions; confirm current schedules with the CEO’s office.
• For properties served by septic systems, secure a recent pumping and inspection report and plan maintenance on a four‑year cycle.
• If you anticipate any deviations from occupancy, parking, or dimensional standards, initiate variance discussions with the ZBA early to avoid delays.