During its regular meeting on July 21, 2022, the Town Council approved a new ordinance regulating short term rentals or, as the ordinance refers to them, Tourist Accommodations. According to the new ordinance, Tourist Accommodations are "any property, facility, or structure providing accommodations for value to the public for not more than 30 consecutive days".
The Town currently has approximately 15 known Tourist Accommodation properties within its jurisdiction based on staff's review of marketplace sites like VRBO and AirBNB. All of these properties are subject to the new ordinance.
All businesses operating within the Town limits are required to obtain an occupational tax certificate before they can legally operate. With this new ordinance, Tourist Accommodations, which essentially fall under the "home occupation" category of business types, are no different. Residents who wish to operate a short term rental will now be required to obtain an OTC from the Town Clerk's office and be issued a Tourist Accommodation permit from the Town before they can host. The application includes a criminal background check and inspections of the premises by the building department, fire marshal, and public health before approval. All of these measures are in place to ensure the safety and welfare of guests.
The new ordinance also prohibits special events or social functions at these locations and requires operators to have a local contact person readily available to respond to the facility 24/7 in the event of an emergency or other issue.
More information, including links to the full text of the new ordinance, is available on the Town's website at www.tyronega.gov/tourist-accommodations.