Oswego Village Board members are taking another look at regulating short-term home rentals for temporary guests through companies like Airbnb and Vrbo.
Trustees as a committee of the whole recently had a discussion about some of the options including imposing a $2,000 annual registration fee for owners of the homes being used for short-term rentals, and creating a minimum three-day or three-night length of stay for the units.
Village staff members have also suggested a few proposed changes to the village’s zoning ordinance concerning the homes.
No vote has been taken on the issue. Staff members will bring the matter back to the board in a couple of months, village officials said.
Some trustees thought the proposed $2,000 annual registration fee was excessive, while others acknowledged they have enjoyed using home rentals when they are out of town.
The issue was last discussed by the board in 2022. Oswego currently does not specifically regulate short-term or long-term rentals. It is estimated there are about six short-term rental units listed through Airbnb and Vrbo in the village, Oswego Development Services Director Rod Zenner said in his report to trustees.
The popularity of short-term rentals doesn’t appear to be going away and neither do the questions about them, he said.
Several residents have raised concerns regarding short-term rentals and have requested the village consider regulations, Zenner said. On the other hand, some residents are supportive, he said.
“We have experienced both sides of the argument,” he said.
Village staff members have proposed establishing a minimum length of stay per rental, such as a minimum of three days or three nights, to deter one-night events or parties at the homes.
Another proposal is to define short-term rentals to differentiate them from a bed and breakfast or a hotel, or from a property owner who rents their property for an extended period of time.
Finally, establishing a registration process would provide the village with information such as the maximum number of people anticipated to stay at a home and contact information in the event of an emergency, staff members said.
The proposed registration would require an annual inspection of the property to determine if there are any code violations, and there would be a $2,000 annual fee.
“The difference is how hands-on or off does the board want to be. Right now, we are totally hands-off,” Oswego Village Administrator Dan Di Santo told trustees.
A registration system is one additional layer that would require an inspection. Another possibility is licensing. Under that proposal, the applicant would have to apply for a license from the village to use a home for short-term rentals, village officials said.
“The licensing seems excessive,” Trustee Karen Novy said. “Maybe we should stick with the registration, and $2,000 sounds like a lot.”
Trustee Tom Guist said he would be supportive of a longer minimum stay.
“I don’t see this being viable for Oswego’s neighborhoods,” Guist said. “I don’t think anyone of us in our neighborhoods would want to see a house constantly acting as a hotel. I would be in support of a bigger minimum stay. A week or two weeks is worth a discussion.”
Trustee Karin McCarthy-Lange asked how many other trustees have stayed in a Vrbo or Airbnb rental.
“I just booked my vacation in one,” she said. “Are we saying that we would be the kind of people we are trying keep out?”
Linda Girardi is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
