City of Kingston, Ulster County
Selling a home in Kingston
New York's first capital and the Ulster County seat, with five historic districts between the Stockade and the Rondout.
Get my free home valueAbout Kingston
The Stockade, Midtown and the Rondout
Kingston dates to the arrival of the Dutch in 1652 and was New York State's first capital. The state Senate first met here in 1777, in the building now kept as the Senate House State Historic Site. Today it is the Ulster County seat and the county's only city, with 24,069 residents at the 2020 Census. A separate, much smaller Town of Kingston lies outside the city, so check which one a listing is in.
The city runs from the Uptown Stockade District down Broadway through Midtown to the Rondout, the old port where Rondout Creek meets the Hudson. City Hall is at 420 Broadway. The Thruway's Kingston exit and the Kingston-Rhinecliff Bridge connect the city north, south and across the river.
Homes in Kingston
What sellers should know
Kingston has 18th-century stone houses, Victorians, brick row houses, two- and three-family homes and newer buildings. The city has five historic districts: Stockade, Rondout-West Strand, Chestnut Street, Fair Street and Wilbur. Exterior work there that can be seen from the street goes to the Historic Landmarks Preservation Commission before a building permit. Kingston adopted a form-based zoning code in 2023, so check how it treats your lot.
Plan for the city transfer tax
Since December 15, 2024, Kingston has charged a 1.25% transfer tax for its Community Preservation Fund. The buyer pays it, but it affects what buyers can offer, so price with it in mind.
Know your historic district
If you're in one of the five districts, buyers will ask what HLPC review covers, from windows and siding to new construction.
Register rentals properly
Kingston has landlord registration and a short-term rental registration portal. Have your registrations in order if you're selling a rental.
Show the neighborhood
Uptown, Midtown and the Rondout feel different. Say exactly where the house is and what's a short walk away.
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Selling a home in Kingston: questions
Who pays the Kingston transfer tax?
Under the city's code, the 1.25% tax is paid by the buyer. If the buyer fails to pay or is exempt, the seller has to pay it. It applies to sales from December 15, 2024, and the County Clerk's form shows how it is figured against the county median price.
Do I need approval to change the outside of my house?
If it's a landmark or in a historic district, exterior work visible from the street needs Historic Landmarks Preservation Commission review before a building permit. That includes window and siding replacement.
Who assesses my home?
The City of Kingston Assessor's Office. The city also has an online property lookup.