Group Urges Temporary Shift in NYC Rental Rules for FIFA World Cup

3/10/2026

A coalition of business and civic groups is urging New York City to temporarily relax short-term rental (STR) rules during the 2026 FIFA World Cup to accommodate an expected surge of visitors. The proposal, called the Summer of Opportunity, would allow owner-occupied one- and two-family homes to offer STRs from June 1 to July 31, 2026. Supporters say the city’s roughly 135,000 hotel rooms are already near 97% occupancy and may not handle the expected influx of tourists. The plan includes safeguards such as mandatory permits, neighborhood caps, safety requirements, full tax collection, and strict penalties for unregistered rentals. Organizers emphasize the proposal would be temporary and would automatically expire on Aug. 1 unless new legislation is passed.

PIX11 (New York City) (03/10/26) Nicole Alarcon