Town aims to regulate short-term rentals

The Town Board is reviewing a proposed zoning amendment that would regulate short-term rental properties.

At a board meeting Tuesday, town officials said rentals like those arranged through the online service Airbnb are already covered under existing laws and only require registration for a permit.

“If you’re in an owneroccupied type of situation, these regulations aren’t going to impact you all that much, other registration and a fee,” Councilman Richard Heppner said. “We’re not outlawing any of that.”

Officials have been concerned about noise and other disturbances from houses that have been rented without an owner living on the property. They note the practice of renting such homes for less than a month is currently prohibited.

“Right now, you’re not allowed to rent out your whole house short-term,” Supervisor Bill McKenna said. “We are loosening regulations there.”

Under the proposed regulations, a short-term rental would be defined as a room that is available for less than 30 days in a single family or two-family home.

Officials are seeking to establish a difference between a home used for short-term rentals and a

formal bed-and-breakfast establishment.

“The (short-term rental) home shall not have more than four occupants (and) must be dwelled in by the owner,” the proposal says.

The owner of a shortterm rental home would be limited to renting out no more than two rooms, and would be required to register the rental and post the registration number on all online listings.

The proposal says a traditional “bed and breakfast/ short-term rental establishment (would be) a supplementary business in a private single or two-family residence in which three and not more than five rooms are offered within the private residence, and in which no public restaurant is maintained and no other commercial services are offered. The STR (short-term rental) establishment shall not have more than 10 occupants as lodgers ... (and) must be dwelled in by the owner.”

The proposal also defines short-term rentals for houses that are not owneroccupied.

“The STR non-owner occupied (house) shall not have more than 2 adult occupants per bedroom as lodgers,” the proposal said. “STR non-owner occupied must have a local host.”

The town would also require renters to be notified of town regulations, such as the leash law and noise ordinance; post local emergency contact numbers; and provide a graphic layout of the house showing fire and emergency exits.