“Short-term rentals are shifting homes from residents to tourists, and it’s hitting our housing supply hard, especially in communities already struggling with affordability,” said Comptroller March Gallagher. “Local governments need the data, tools, and enforcement support to strike the right balance between tourism and housing stability. I applaud the new state law requiring short-term rental registries which I believe will improve tax collection and that data available for short-term rental regulation and enforcement.”
There are now at least ten platforms listing STRs in the County, compared to just four in 2020. Although sixteen municipalities have adopted some form of regulation, enforcement continues to be a challenge. Some towns have capped the number of STR permits or require owner-occupancy but staffing and compliance remain issues.
