City collecting short-term rental data, refining ‘hotel’ definition

KINGSTON, N.Y. » City lawmakers have taken steps to obtain data collected about short-term rentals in Kingston and to create a single definition of “hotel” within the city’s code and zoning code.

During an online meeting Tuesday, the Common Council voted unanimously to adopt a resolution authorizing the city to enter into an agreement with Ulster County to receive an inventory of all properties in Kingston that have been identified as advertising short-term rental availability. Separately, the council unanimously adopted a resolution changing the definition of “hotel” within the city code.

The council also voted to refer the proposed definition of “hotel” within the city’s zoning code to the city and county planning boards, as well as the city’s Historic Landmarks Preservation Commission, for feedback. Such referral is necessary before the council can vote on whether to change the definition of “hotel” in the zoning code.

Alderwoman Michele Hirsch, who introduced the pieces of legislation, previously said the city code and zoning code contained three different definitions of “hotel.” The change would create a single definition and bring the city’s version more in line with the county’s, she said.

“The reason we’re aligning the definition is to match the county definition, because the county’s definition shows that they are the ones that collect the hotel bed tax,” Hirsch, D-Ward 9, said during Tuesday’s meeting. “So all of these places in the city of Kingston would be paying that same hotel bed tax to the county.”

The proposed new definition of “hotel” is “a building or portion of which is regularly used and kept open for lodging of transient guests on an overnight basis.”

It also states: “The term ‘hotel’ or ‘motel’ includes short-term rentals, an apartment hotel, motor court or inn, ‘tourist cabins,’ boarding house or club, or similar hotel or motel type of accommodations by whatever name designated, whether or not meals are served, and shall include those facilities commonly known as ‘bed-andbreakfasts’ and ‘short-term rentals.’”

Of the agreement with the county, Hirsch has said Ulster already has such agreements with other municipalities and works with a company to collect information about short-term rentals in the area.

“The county will begin to gather data to learn how many short-term rentals are located in the city and paying the county bed tax,” Hirsch said Tuesday. “I think it’s important that we have this data before crafting any further legislation.”

The council’s special housing committee had, for several months, been considering proposed regulations for short-term rentals in the city.