Southold, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 207 (eCode360 ed. 2026) § 207-7

A. It shall be unlawful for any rental occupancy to exist in any dwelling without the owner's first having obtained a rental permit from the Code Enforcement Official. The rental of any parcel amenity, accessory use or yard area, including pools, barns (except for storage-only purposes), sports courts or waterway access, not in conjunction with a permitted rental unit occupancy, is at all times prohibited. (1) It shall be an affirmative defense to a violation of Subsection A of this section that the rental occupant or occupants is/are immediate family members of the owner of the subject premises, as defined in this chapter. B. Rental permit application requirements. (1) Rental permit applications shall be in writing on a form provided by the Town and shall include the owner's name, address and telephone number. (2) Rental permits applications shall contain a description of the unit, including the number of rooms in the rental dwelling unit, and the dimensions and use of each such room shall be included. The name, address and telephone number, if any, of the managing agent or operator of each such intended rental dwelling unit shall be included. (3) Rental permits applications shall include the maximum number of persons that are being requested to occupy the rental dwelling unit. (4) All applicants for a rental permit shall sign an affidavit stating that they have received a copy of and fully understand this chapter of the Southold Town Code. (5) All applicants must submit the following documents: (a) Copies of all certificates of occupancy and/or precertificates of occupancy for the rental dwelling unit; (b) An affidavit setting forth the address to be used as the last known address of the owner for service pursuant to all applicable laws and rules. The owner shall notify the Code Enforcement Official of any change of address submitted pursuant to this section within five business days of any change thereto; and (c) Inspection report. The owner of the rental dwelling unit shall: [1] Arrange for an inspection of the unit or units and the premises on which the same are located by the Code Enforcement Official or his designee employed by the Town of Southold, or [2] Provide to the Code Enforcement Official an inspection report, on a form provided by the Town, signed by either a New York State licensed professional engineer, New York State licensed architect or home inspector who has a valid New York State Uniform Fire Prevention Building Code certification that the structure and the dwelling units contained therein meet all applicable housing, sanitary, building, electrical and fire codes, rules and regulations. (6) Each application shall be executed and sworn to by the owner of the premises. (7) All rental properties containing eight or more rental units shall provide for a designated site manager, who shall be available to address and resolve any issues with the property 24 hours a day. The owner of the property must file the manager's address, telephone number and other contact information with the Code Enforcement Official within five days of the designation of the manager or any changes thereto. C. Notwithstanding the above, no rental occupancy permit shall be required for a residential care facility licensed under federal, New York State or Suffolk County guidelines. D. Renewal of rental permits. (1) A renewal rental permit application signed by the owner shall be completed and filed with the Code Enforcement Official at least 90 days prior to the expiration date of any valid rental permit. A renewal rental permit application shall contain a copy of the prior rental permit. (2) Prior to the issuance of a renewal rental permit, the owner shall cause an inspection of the unit or units and the premises pursuant to § 207-7B(5)(c) above. (3) The Town of Southold shall not accept, review or approve any renewal rental application for a dwelling or rental dwelling unit wherein the prior rental permit expiration date has passed. If the expiration date has passed, the owner must file a new application. E. Advertising of rentals. (1) The advertising of any rental unit shall include the rental permit number as part of the written and posted ad and on all social media and rental websites. The rental permit must be posted at the primary front entrance of the parcel containing the rental unit at all times. (2) It shall be unlawful and a violation of this chapter for any person, entity, broker or agent to list, advertise, show or otherwise offer for lease, rent or sale on behalf of the owner or authorized agent any dwelling unit which is, itself, a rental dwelling or which contains a rental unit, for which a current rental occupancy permit has not been issued by the Code Enforcement Official. This provision is intended to establish a duty to verify the existence of a valid rental occupancy permit before listing, showing or otherwise offering for lease, rent or sale any such dwelling or dwelling unit in the Town of Southold. (3) It shall be unlawful and a violation of this chapter for any person, entity, corporation, broker, or agent to cause an advertisement or solicitation for a rental dwelling or dwelling unit to be listed, placed, posted or submitted for inclusion on any website, in the mass media, or in printed materials, including flyers, handbills, mailed circulars, social media, bulletin boards, signs or electronic media, without such person, entity, corporation, broker or agent first verifying the existence of a valid rental occupancy permit. All such advertisements, solicitations, listings, and postings on any website, in the mass media, or in printed materials, including flyers, handbills, mailed circulars, social media, bulletin boards, signs or electronic media, shall include the valid rental permit number. Violation of this section shall be unlawful and an offense within the meaning of the Penal Law of the State of New York.