Short-term rental properties in Shawangunk will soon be subject to new regulations, as the town board voted on Aug. 7 to require short-term rental operators to apply for permits through the building department.

Short-term rentals are defined in the law as a dwelling unit rented or leased for less than 30 days. These include rentals listed on sites such as Airbnb and Vrbo. The law will now require that these units adhere to specific safety and conduct standards and receive a permit.

The purpose of the law, according to Supervisor Ken Ronk Jr, is to ensure the units are safe. “We’re not looking to ruin anybody’s day. We’re just making sure that these places are safe when people are renting them in our community,” he said.

Under the new law, rentals are regulated in a few ways. Primarily, it requires that owners of these rentals acquire a license from the building department. In the application for this license, owners must agree to allow the town’s code enforcement officer and fire inspector to inspect the property and must provide accurate floor plans for each level of the house that can be occupied, among other regulations.

This application comes with a non-refundable fee that Ronk and the board set at $250 plus an additional $50 per room in the house. According to the board, the fee’s purpose is not to generate excess revenue for the town but to cover the increased expenses of licensing and inspection.

In addition to the permit, the law sets other standards for the rental units. “There are certain requirements in the law based on safety,” Ronk said. The law currently requires that there will be at least three working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors installed on the property, along with an accessible operable fire extinguisher. It also requires that the doors and electrical systems work properly.

Ronk also clarified some other regulations the law creates. “We require one off-street or on- street parking spot per bedroom. In order to not cause problems on the roads with parking and proper garbage collection,” he said.
The law also mandates the posting of a good neighbor sign on the property and requires that a person who operates a short-term rental has a responsible party that is local and able to respond to the concerns of residents and the building inspector if needed.

Now that the town has adopted the law, Ronk said the board will be attempting to inform short-term renters of the need for a permit. “We’re going to put out as best we can information that there’s this new law that requires that you come in and get a license from the building department and get an inspection,” Ronk said.

He further explained that Ulster County provided him with data highlighting potential short-term rental operations in the town. He said he will be reaching out to those operators about the need to obtain a permit. “We have some data to go off of…and then after that, it’s going to be word of mouth trying to get people registered.”

The consequence of not registering is steep. A first-time violation is a fine not exceeding $750. For a second and third violation, that maximum fine increases to a fine not exceeding $2,000 and $5,000, respectively. “Of course, we’re not going to be punitive with people as they learn about [the law],” Ronk said. “The first time around, especially for the first six months or so, there’s going to be some leniency. We really just want people to register.”
The next town board meeting will be on Aug 21.