The Department of Housing Initiatives is a newly established department dedicated to support housing planning in the City of Kingston. The Department manages housing-related grants, supports the construction of new market-rate and affordable housing, develops policies to protect existing residents, and addresses the connection between housing and sustainability, health, and mobility. The Department also reviews the disposition of city-owned property suitable for housing development and collaborates with local and regional housing organizations.
The City of Kingston is a proud member of the Ulster County Housing Smart Communities Initiative, a member of the Up For Growth network, and part of the the Ulster County Continuum of Care. The Office of Housing Initiatives also manages a City of Kingston Housing Task Force.
The City of Kingston is a certified "Pro-Housing Community" by New York State.
Upcoming Housing-Related Public Events & News
Kingston Business Park Preliminary Site and Architectural Studies RFP: The City of Kingston seeks a qualified architectural and/or design firm to assist the City and the Kingston Local Development Corporation (KLDC) in determining major programmatic elements of the potential significant residential redevelopment of the Kingston Business Park. Responses are due by May 17, 2023 at 2:00 PM EST. See the full Request for Proposals here. See the Kingston Business Park site map here.
Accessory Dwelling Unit Design Competition: The City of Kingston, in partnership with RUPCO and Ulster County, hosted an accessory dwelling unit design competition. Submissions are were due on August 15, 2023. The awardees were announced in November 2023. For more information, see here.
Citywide Rezoning: As of August 2, 2023, the citywide form-based zoning code is in effect. For more details, resources, a development guide and the latest updates, visit https://engagekingston.com/kingston-forward.
Emergency Tenant Protection Act: On July 28, 2022, the Common Council of the City Kingston passed Resolution 144 of 2022 to declare a housing emergency. That Resolution, based on a careful study of local housing conditions, allows Kingston to opt into the Emergency Tenant Protection Act (ETPA). Mayor Steve Noble signed the legislation on July 29, 2022. The effective date of this legislation is August 1, 2022. For the City's ETPA tenant information hub on Engage Kingston to learn about your rights under this legislation, click here. If you are a tenant or owner, you can also visit DHCR's rent connect website (https://rent.hcr.ny.gov/RentConnect/Welcome) for all relevant forms and documentation.
Active Housing Projects on Engage Kingston
Kingston Forward: Citywide Rezoning
City of Kingston Surplus Properties
Emergency Tenant Protection Act Information Hub
ARPA Affordable Housing Fund
Say Yes to ADUs! Accessory Dwelling Design Competition
Midtown Thriving: Brownfield Opportunity Area Grant
City of Kingston Right to Counsel Program (access to free legal services)
Relevant Plans
A Plan for Redevelopment: The City of Kingston’s Vacant and Abandoned Properties
Kingston 2025 Comprehensive Plan
Fact Sheets & Housing Resources
Kingston Forward Development Guide - This handbook summarizes how to use the City's new form-based zoning code. For more information and many more resources, visit: https://engagekingston.com/kingston-forward
Short-term rental regulations in the City of Kingston - This fact sheet outlines the regulations for short-term rentals in the City of Kingston under the form-based zoning code. The online registration link is: https://cityofkingston.munirevs.com
Do you have a complaint related to short-term rental activity? You can submit it here. (Make sure to select City of Kingston, NY under the jurisdiction)
The City of Kingston's Right to Counsel Program - Are you facing an eviction in court? Do you need help exercising your housing rights? The City of Kingston's Right to Counsel Program can help.
Landlord-Tenant Housing Mediation Program - This fact sheet provides information on the Landlord-Tenant Housing Mediation Program. This program provides free, confidential mediation from a trained mediator that can help resolve your conflict without having to go to housing court. To get started, fill out an intake form or call the DRC at (845) 372-8771 x 5001 to reach Jolynn Dunn.
Emergency Tenant Protection Act in Kingston, New York - On July 28, 2022, the Common Council of the City Kingston passed Resolution 144 of 2022 to declare a housing emergency. This fact sheet gives information on the implementation of ETPA in Kingston and contains a list of properties covered by ETPA.
Residential Tenants' Rights Guide - This guide from the Attorney General's Office summarizes renter's rights and protections under New York State Law. If you need legal help for a housing issue, find out how to access the City of Kingston's Right to Counsel program here.
City of Kingston Disposition Policy - The City of Kingston follow this property for selling surplus property.
Looking for the latest statistics on homelessness in the City of Kingston/Ulster County? See the interactive map from the National Alliance to End Homelessness here. Then, click on Ulster County.
Affordable Housing Under the Form-Based Zoning Code
The City of Kingston’s zoning code, Kingston Forward, requires reduced-rent units for housing developments that have 7 or more units. Projects with 7-19 units require affordable units (rented for no greater than 30% of 80% AMI) and projects with 20 or more units require both affordable and workforce units (rented for no greater than 30% of 120% AMI).
Form-Based Code Affordable Housing Requirements
Affordable and Workforce Housing 2023 Rents & 2024 Utility Allowances
Tenant Income Certification Form
Owner's Certification of Continuing Program Compliance
Instructions for Completing Tenant Income Certification
Payment in Lieu of Providing Affordable Housing - Common Council Criteria
City of Kingston Municipal Preference Policy
The purpose of the municipal preference policy is to prevent displacement from the City of Kingston by ensuring that current residents and former residents of the City have priority access to affordable housing opportunities and therefore have a better chance of living in the City. To read how housing providers in the City of Kingston could adopt a preference policy for City of Kingston residents, see here. Please contact the Office of Housing Initiatives for additional guidance.
Accessory Dwelling Units in the City of Kingston
Accessory dwelling units in the City of Kingston are legal citywide under the City's recently adopted form-based code. The City held an accessory dwelling unit design competition in 2023, see here. Pre-approved construction sets for the winning design will be published in early 2024.
Kingston has also adopted 421-F, a property tax exemption for new attached accessory dwelling units. For more information, contact the City Assessor.
Kingston Water Department Accessory Dwelling Unit Guidance
Short-Term Rentals in the City of Kingston
Short-term rental regulations in the City of Kingston - This fact sheet outlines the regulations for short-term rentals in the City of Kingston under the form-based zoning code. The online registration link is: https://cityofkingston.munirevs.com
Do you have a complaint related to short-term rental activity? You can submit it here. (Make sure to select City of Kingston, NY under the jurisdiction)
The list of registered short-term rentals can be found here. (updated quarterly)
Contact Information
Bartek Starodaj, Director of Housing Initiatives
(845) 334-3928
[email protected]