The town of Varick is considering a local law that would regulate short-term vacation rentals.
The Finger Lakes Times reports the town board will hold a public hearing on the proposed law May 3 at the town offices. With the rise of services such as Airbnb, homeowners near the Finger Lakes are increasingly renting their properties for vacation use. In some cases, that’s led to complaints from neighbors about increased noise and traffic.
The proposed local law would require that homeowners have enough parking for all guests. Parking along the road, in yards or in neighbors’ driveways would be prohibited. It would require property owners to provide proof of a working septic system, and to show that their properties are fully up to code and comply with all state and local laws. It would limit any property owner to no more than two short-term rental properties and would make owners responsible for the behavior of their renters.
If the law passes, property owners would have until September 1 to apply for special-use permits.
Related: Watkins Glen extends moratorium on new short-term rental properties
Other Finger Lakes communities have adopted short-term rental regulations in recent years.
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