FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 4, 2026

Mayor Noble Announces a Proposed Occupancy Tax for Short-term Accommodations

KINGSTON, NY – Mayor Steven T. Noble is pleased to announce that he has proposed the Common Council pass a resolution to implement a City of Kingston occupancy/lodging tax.

Mayor Noble said, “This short-term accommodation tax will assist City government in continuing to deliver all of the crucial services visitors and tourists depend on when they stay in Kingston. Our nearby neighbors like Newburgh, Catskill, Poughkeepsie, and Fishkill have all implemented local occupancy taxes, while Kingston has none. This is an opportunity for us to capitalize on the keen interest in Kingston and the many attractions, festivals, and natural resources that we offer to visitors, to benefit the greater community by helping to keep our City more affordable for its residents.”

As proposed in his 2026 Recommended Budget, Mayor Noble is recommending that the City of Kingston institute a occupancy tax on short-term lodging up to 3%.

Newburgh has a 5% occupancy tax, while Catskill and Coxsackie have a 4% and Poughkeepsie has a 3% occupancy tax. This tax would apply to local hotels, motels, bed & breakfasts, and short-term rentals like Airbnb.

If the Common Council approves of the proposed tax, they would pass a resolution asking the State legislature to pass a home rule bill requesting the Governor approve this bill for Kingston to begin collecting the occupancy tax. It’s expected that the legislation could be adopted by the end of this year’s legislative session in June. 

The 2026 Adopted Budget includes an estimated revenue of $100,000 from the occupancy tax. Budgets can be found at https://kingston-ny.gov/budget.