NEW FAIRFIELD — It’s not long since the city established regulations on short-term rentals, and authorities are already facing a new challenge: imposing a ban on rentals as the holiday season dawns.
Governor Ned Lamont implemented an executive order last month banning non-essential short-term accommodation during the coronavirus crisis.
“Aggressive mitigation measures are imperative to slow the spread of COVID-19 in our state and region, and one of those measures … is ensuring people stay home and avoid unnecessary travel. or temporary accommodation for vacation or leisure purposes,” Executive Order No. 7T States.
The order applies to hotels, timeshares and other accommodation types, including Airbnb, VRBO and other properties rented for 31 days or less.
At this stage, the execution of the decree rests with the city, said Monday the first coach Pat Del Monaco.
“Like some of the other provisions of the executive orders, this is kind of a first time that we educate and inform you of the requirements and encourage compliance. And I would also take that perspective with this (order),” she said.
Del Monaco said the executive orders have the effect of state law, but the state has not provided clear guidance on how they should be enforced.
The state recommended local police enforce the ordinance, she said, but there have been “differing opinions in different state agencies as to where the enforcement originated.”
The executive order was enacted a month after New Fairfield’s new regulations on short-term rentals entered into force.
The Zoning Commission set the regulations after spending more than a year looking for ways to regulate short-term rentals while maintaining the city’s tradition of renting lakefront properties. They were sparked by complaints from residents who said tenants were packing large groups into small homes, causing strained septic systems, crowded parking lots and noise disturbances for neighbors.
Coach Kim Hanson said those neighbors could play an important role in enforcing the executive order. Del Monaco and his colleague, Khris Hall, agreed.
“We know that there (have been) complaints. We know there are houses full of people and the neighbors are disturbed by it,” Hall said. “I think it’s going to depend to a very large extent on neighbors reporting when they see something that bothers them.”
Hall also suggested that the Board of Selectmen advise the resident state trooper’s office of the importance of enforcing the executive order.
The council decided to try to inform owners of short-term rental properties of the new state directive.
Del Monaco said she would speak to the city’s zoning enforcement officer, Evan White, to get their names and numbers.
Airbnb added an alert on its website advising people looking for properties to rent to “check travel restrictions before booking” and to “follow government guidelines and only travel if essential”.
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