Navigating Hamptons Rental Regulations & Permits: What Every Owner Must Know
Renting your Hamptons home for the summer can be a fantastic opportunity but it’s essential to understand the local regulations to ensure a smooth and lawful experience. As the Hamptons premier property manager, Our House Property Management is here to simplify legal compliance with rental regulations for you.
Each Hamptons locality has specific rules. Here’s a brief overview:
- Town of Southampton (including Bridgehampton, Water Mill, Sagaponack, Noyac):
- Rental Permit: Generally required for all rentals; typically valid for two years.
- Minimum Rental Term: 14 days.
- Parking: Limits usually apply, often one more vehicle than the number of legal bedrooms.
- Share Houses: Strictly regulated; “selling shares” is generally prohibited if it constitutes transient occupancy.
- For more information visit the Town of Southampton Rental FAQ’s
- Town of East Hampton (including Montauk, Amagansett, Wainscott, Springs):
- Rental Registry: A Rental Registry number is mandatory and must be in all ads. See the Town of East Hampton – Rental Registry application.
- Minimum Rental Term: It is illegal to rent a property for less than two weeks more than twice in a six-month period.
- Parking: Overnight parking is typically limited to no more than four vehicles on the lot.
- Share Houses: Share houses—use arrangements in which individuals obtain rights of occupancy in individual bedrooms, or rights to occupy all or part of a residence on particular days of the week, are illegal.
- For more information refer to the Town of East Hampton town safety brochure.
- Village of Sag Harbor:
- Rental Permit: Required for non-owner-occupied residences. Rental permits are valid for two years and new leases during this period must be registered. See the Village of Sag Harbor Rental Permit Application for more details.
- Minimum Rental Term: Generally, no less than 30 consecutive days, with limited exceptions for two rentals of two weeks per calendar year.
- Parking: Overnight parking at rentals can be limited (e.g., no more than four cars between 1 AM and 6 AM).
- Share Houses: Selling shares for occupancy of less than a month is prohibited.
General Requirements:
- Safety Codes: All towns mandate adherence to safety codes (smoke/CO detectors, egress, pool safety), often verified via self-inspection checklists or formal inspections.
- Insurance: Standard homeowner’s insurance is usually insufficient. Landlord or short-term rental insurance is required.
Navigating Hamptons rental laws, including specific rental regulations of East Hampton (including Montauk, Amagansett, Springs, and Wainscott), Southampton (including Water Mill, Bridgehampton and Sagaponack), and Sag Harbor – can be complex.
Our House Property Management ensures compliance by handling permit applications, coordinating inspections, advising on insurance, and staying current on all local ordinances. For specific real estate questions please contact Melissa Sama on the Rylan Jacka Team at The Agency Hamptons (516-660-6208 | melissa.sama@theagencyre.com). We manage the details so you don’t have to.
