Amherst, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 44 (eCode360 ed. 2026) § 44-3
Rental dwelling unit registration required; exemptions
Operative Text
A. Registration required. No person shall allow to be occupied, or rent to another for occupancy, any dwelling unit unless the owner has first obtained either a short term rental dwelling unit registration certificate or a rental dwelling unit registration certificate as hereafter provided. B. Exemptions. Exemptions. The provisions of this Chapter shall not apply to owner-occupied properties containing two or fewer dwelling units and are not short-term rentals; properties granted an exception to these provisions by a majority vote of the Town Board; properties owned by a college or university for inhabitation by administrative officers and/or faculty free of charge; properties owned by a faith-based organization for use as a living quarters by clergy free of charge; properties subject to the Erie County PHA Consortium Section 8 Renters Association; hotels; motels; properties located in MFR-4a, MFR-5, MFR-6 and MFR-7; hospitals; nursing homes; assisted living facilities; group homes or other dwelling units which offer or provide medical or nursing services if such units are subject to state or federal licensing or regulations concerning the safety of the users, patients or tenants.
Section 44-3 of Amherst, N.Y., Code of Ordinances Chapter 44 establishes that any rental dwelling unit must be registered with the town before it can be lawfully occupied or rented out. Owners must obtain either a standard rental dwelling unit registration certificate or a short-term rental dwelling unit registration certificate, depending on the nature of the rental. A defined set of property types is exempt from this requirement, including certain owner-occupied small properties, properties in specific multi-family residential zones, hotels, motels, and facilities subject to state or federal licensing such as nursing homes and group homes.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 44-3, a compliant rental property owner in Amherst secures the appropriate registration certificate — either a standard or short-term rental certificate — before allowing any tenant to occupy a unit. Operators generally review the exemption list in § 44-3(B) to confirm whether their property type qualifies, since properties in zones MFR-4a through MFR-7, owner-occupied two-unit properties that are not short-term rentals, and several other categories fall outside the chapter's requirements. Maintaining current registration documentation and renewing it as required helps demonstrate ongoing compliance with Chapter 44.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 44-3 of Amherst's Code of Ordinances gives tenants a basis to verify that their rental unit is properly registered before or during occupancy, since landlords are prohibited from renting unregistered units. If a unit appears to lack the required registration certificate under § 44-3, tenants may consider contacting the Town of Amherst directly to inquire about the property's registration status. Tenant-rights organizations familiar with Amherst's local ordinances can help explain what options may be available when a landlord has not complied with Chapter 44's registration requirement.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated November 9, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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