Understanding Short-Term Rentals: The Challenges and Possibilities of STRs in Our Communities (.pdf) | Plan On It eNewsletter, September/October 2019

A Dutchess County Planning Federation eNewsletter

September/October 2019

Understanding Short-Term Rentals

The Challenges and Possibilities of STRs in Our Communities

By Heather LaVarnway, CNU-A (Senior Planner), Anne Saylor (Community Development

Administrator), Shelby Frangk (Planner)

Short-term rentals (STRs) are one of the hottest topics in the planning and zoning world right

now, and one of the more complex topics we’ve had the pleasure of wrestling with here at County

Planning in a while. Though the concept is decades-old, the recent exponential growth of short-

term rentals (thanks to online platforms such as Airbnb, VRBO, HomeAway and others) has

catapulted them into the limelight. And with that growth comes a recognition of the issues, both

positive and negative, that go along with STRs.

What Do We Mean by “Short-Term Rentals”?

The simple answer is that a short-term rental is a dwelling unit, or portion thereof, that is rented

for a short duration (typically less than 30 days) to transient guests (such as tourists, not

someone looking for permanent housing). But the answer is more complicated than that, and

STRs can take on a variety of forms. It could be your 20-something buddy who occasionally rents

out his couch or spare room to a friend-of-a-friend who’s in town for an event. It could be the

retiree next door who regularly rents out her accessory apartment to supplement her fixed-

income. But most often, at least in Dutchess County, it’s when the house down the block is rented

out to visitors for a short stay, and more often than not the owner of that house is not on-site

during the rental, or may not even live there at all.

As you read further, here are some important distinctions to keep in mind about STRs:

HOSTED versus UNHOSTED:

• Hosted STR – When the property owner remains on-site during the rental. This is often the

case with the short-term rental of a room within a house, or an accessory apartment

located either within the house or elsewhere on the property (such as above a garage).

• Unhosted STR – When the property owner is not present on-site during the rental. This is

almost always the case with whole-house rentals (though there are occasions where a

second, separate dwelling unit on the property may be occupied by the property owner).

PRIMARY RESIDENCE versus NON-PRIMARY RESIDENCE:

• Primary Residence STR – The property where the short-term rental takes place contains

the primary residence of the property owner, even if they vacate the property during the

rental period.

• Non-Primary Residence STR – The property where the short-term rental takes place is

either a secondary residence or solely an investment property, the main purpose of which

is that of a short-term rental.

This complex topic has earned itself a somewhat lengthier discussion herein, so please bear with

us. This article seeks to explain the basics of short-term rentals and offer some general guidance

on how local municipalities might choose to regulate them via zoning. It is important to recognize

Plan On It, September/October 2019 Issue

that the guidance in this article reflects a snapshot in time rather than long-established

techniques, as regulating STRs is still being tested. Ultimately, time (and likely, the courts) will be

the true test for which approaches pass muster and which go the way of the proverbial dodo bird.

Local Picture: Survey of Dutchess County Municipalities

Our office recently conducted a survey of local municipal officials and staff – mayors and

supervisors, city administrators, zoning administrators, law enforcement, building inspectors,

code enforcement officers, planning board chairs, and others – to gather baseline information on

the current status of short-term rentals in Dutchess County and to identify any concerns or

opportunities regarding them. While admittedly an anecdotal effort, responses were received from

26 of 30 Dutchess County municipalities, a response rate that suggests this is a topic of great

interest in many communities. In reviewing the data, one thing was abundantly clear –

communities have more questions than answers when it comes to STRs.

Over 88% of survey respondents believe there are short-term rentals operating in their

communities, but what types, how many, and where they’re located is less clear. Most

communities do not know whether their STRs are hosted or unhosted, or the owner’s primary

residence or not. At the time of the survey, none of the respondent communities had specific

short-term rental regulations, and only a few were applying other sections of their code when

issues arose; overall, most municipalities (72%) said they do not regulate STRs in any way.

Looking ahead, seven municipalities were drafting regulations and another 10 indicated an

interest in developing regulations to address short-term rentals.

According to the survey, municipalities see more potential negatives than positives when it comes

to STRs operating in their community – 53% of respondents said they see opportunities, while

79% said they have concerns. With that said, most of our communities had not been inundated

with formal complaints about STRs (during 2017-2018). If STR complaints were filed with a

community, they were generally related to noise and disorderly conduct, building and property

maintenance issues (e.g. trash), and illegal parking. The impression given from the survey

responses is that noise and disorderly conduct issues primarily arise when the property owner is

not present on-site during the rental (unhosted rentals). Others noted that complaints have been

received about the impact on traditional bed-and-breakfast establishments and how STRs are

unfairly competing in the lodging market. A key issue in addressing complaints is not only having

local STR regulations, but being able to adequately enforce them, and many communities (43%)

do not feel equipped with the right tools or staffing levels to do so.

What Does the Actual Data Reveal About STRs in Dutchess County?

In 2017, Dutchess County and Airbnb entered into a voluntary agreement whereby Airbnb collects

and remits the required County hotel occupancy tax (as per Dutchess County Local Law No. 11 of

1983) on behalf of the hosts operating via its online platform.

In recognizing that Airbnb is just one of over 100 online platforms that facilitate short-term

rentals, the County now contracts with Host Compliance, a web-based service that helps identify

short-term rentals and notify hosts of their obligation to remit the tax. As part of that contract,

we receive aggregate data about the number of STR listings identified in Dutchess County, which

has aided in our understanding of the local picture of short-term rentals. Some of the highlights

for Dutchess County, as measured in August 2019, include:

• There were 947 short-term rental units countywide (these were reflected in 1,334 listings,

but this higher number indicates some duplication across multiple online platforms. For our

purposes, we are focused on the number of units unless otherwise indicated)

• Every municipality has STRs; the number of units per municipality ranged from 2–151

• 31% increase in number of listings between 2017-2018

• 87% of listings are the entire dwelling unit (versus a room or portion of the unit)

Plan On It, September/October 2019 Issue

Distribution of Short-Term Rental

Units, Per Municipality

August 2019

23% had ≤10 units

63% had 11-50 units

10% had 51-100 units

3% had >100 units

[source: Host Compliance]

Number of Short-Term Rentals By Municipality

August 2019

Municipality

# of

Units

Municipality

# of

Units

City of Beacon

151

Town of Poughkeepsie

City of Poughkeepsie

Town of Red Hook

Town of Amenia

Town of Rhinebeck

Town of Beekman

Town of Stanford

Town of Clinton

Town of Union Vale

Town of Dover

Town of Wappinger

Town of East Fishkill

Town of Washington

Town of Fishkill

Village of Fishkill

Town of Hyde Park

Village of Millbrook

Town of LaGrange

Village of Millerton

Town of Milan

Village of Pawling

Town of North East

Village of Red Hook

Town of Pawling

Village of Rhinebeck

Town of Pine Plains

Village of Tivoli

Town of Pleasant Valley

Village of Wappingers

Falls

COUNTY TOTAL = 947

This data reflects a point-in-time summary of the number of known short-

term rental units throughout Dutchess County. [source: Host Compliance]

As with many disruptive innovations, there are both pros and cons to short-term rentals. These

are usually closely related and feel like the flip sides of the same coin, making it difficult to

balance the benefits and burdens that short-term rentals bring to communities.

The Benefits of Short-Term Rentals

Let’s begin by reviewing some of the positive aspects of short-term rentals:

Additional Financial Resources for Residents – The origin story of short-term rentals is

inspiring. Tech savvy entrepreneurs identify an underutilized resource (extra rooms in homes,

and second homes that often sit vacant) and develop a consumer-friendly platform to help

property owners monetize this excess capacity. STR ads show seniors remodeling and renting

out their grown children’s bedrooms and using these funds to offset property maintenance and

taxes, or a young family renting out a basement room to help pay the mortgage or save for

their children’s college. The benefits to existing residents are clear in these cases.

Alternative Lodging Options – Many communities would like to attract more tourists but

there is often a shortage of lodging or a lack of the type of lodging that is attractive to today’s

traveler. While many people like to get away to hotels, a significant number of people want a

different experience where they can cook a quick breakfast, do some laundry (so they don’t

Plan On It, September/October 2019 Issue

have to pay those crazy airline luggage fees), have common space to spend quality time with

friends and family, or most importantly, bring Fido.

Enhanced Tourism/Revenue Opportunities – In addition to boosting the financial resources

of existing residents, short-term rentals also bring more people into our communities, which is

often desirable in struggling downtowns. Tourists provide much needed customers for our

restaurants, entertainment venues, and other retail and recreation amenities.

Additional tax revenue can be another benefit. This most frequently comes in the form of an

occupancy tax. In Dutchess County it is estimated that STRs generated $368,000 in occupancy

tax in 2018, which was used to offset the county tax rate.

Neighborhood Revitalization – STRs are often credited with revitalizing struggling

neighborhoods as individuals purchase and rehabilitate vacant and abandoned properties.

Improvements to these blighted properties helps raise adjacent property values and improve

quality of life issues such as crime.

The Negative Impacts of Short-Term Rentals

Along with these benefits comes the inevitable list of concerns:

Altered Neighborhood Character – Effects on the quality of life in a neighborhood is a

frequently raised issue with short-term rentals. Stories of wild bachelor parties, numerous cars

parked on lawns, and mounds of trash abound, all of which puts additional stress on already

overworked police departments and building inspectors.

Since short-term rentals often result in a steady stream of guests who come and go from a

property, existing residents also mention safety and security as a concern. While there isn’t

much direct research on this yet, as with many other issues related to STRs, it is likely all about

the details. Are the STRs permitted or illegal units? Is there any oversight by the local

municipality via an annual permit or some other monitoring mechanism? It’s in the best interest

of everyone, including STR hosts, to make sure the safety and security of guests and nearby

residents is maintained at all times.

Even if STRs are well run, conversion from a primary residence for full-time residents to an STR

housing transient visitors will affect the character of the neighborhood, as fewer people will

know these temporary “neighbors.” What is the value of having a neighbor who keeps an eye

on your home when you are on vacation or lets you borrow their mower when yours breaks?

For many of us, these day-to-day interactions are part of the fabric of our neighborhood, and

they disappear when you have different people coming and going every few days.

Effect on Traditional Lodging – When an apartment shifts to a short-term rental, it is

effectively moving from the housing market to the hotel market, which can negatively impact

existing lodging. Although STRs compete in the lodging market, they are not regulated the

same way, which puts traditional lodging at a competitive disadvantage, at least when it comes

to price. Not only is traditional lodging built to a different, more expensive building code, it is

subject to regular health and building code inspections. These regulations are critical to

ensuring the safety of occupants, but they also add to the cost of doing business, and STRs are

not subject to these same standards. It is important that any STR regulations attempt to level

the regulatory playing field for all lodging.

Housing Affordability and Availability – The effect of STRs on housing affordability and

availability is another frequently cited concern. Housing prices are very much a function of

supply and demand so it makes sense that when housing units are removed from the regular

market, either rental or owner, it is likely that prices will increase. A recent joint study from the

National Bureau of Economic Research, California State University, and University of

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Southern California shows this is, in fact, happening. Their study states, ”the results presented

in this paper suggest that the increased ability to home-share has led to increases in both

rental rates and house prices.” In addition, it states “an increase in Airbnb listings leads to a

decrease in the number of units available to long-term renters.” Dutchess County has long

struggled with low vacancy rates in the rental housing market, so even a small shift further in

that direction could create a crisis. This underscores a long-standing need for a wider variety of

housing types in Dutchess County such as accessory units, small apartment buildings (2-4

units), and larger apartment complexes.

The City of New Orleans, a popular tourist destination that also attracts waves of visitors for events

such as Mardi Gras, has been struggling with an aggressive short-term rental market for several

years. They crafted regulations with a tiered permitting process, which have been modified since their

inception, and the City continues to struggle with the outfall of STRs. A displaced resident spray-

painted the message shown above in an attempt to draw attention to one of the negative effects of short

-term rentals. [Image credit: The Lens, March 23, 2018]

Some argue that the units being converted to STRs are not affordable housing, asserting that

the question of affordability is moot. However, the housing market is a continuum; if higher-

end units are removed from the rental housing market, the people who would have rented

them will be forced to look for alternative units. The housing market is a bit like musical chairs:

particularly in a community that isn’t doing much building, each conversion to a short-term

rental is like pulling out a chair between rounds. But unlike musical chairs where the person

left standing is selected by chance, in the housing market the person left standing is usually

the one with the fewest financial resources.

It has also been suggested that the ability to easily earn income by offering your property as a

short-term rental might increase the number of households purchasing second homes, as STRs

now make it more financially feasible. This could result in even more homes being taken out of

the market for permanent residents, driving up purchase prices.

Plan On It, September/October 2019 Issue

Lastly, a word on property values and short-term rentals, as many existing homeowners may

express this concern. While it is possible that an individual property could be devalued because

of a problematic STR nearby, the early research suggests short-term rentals actually increase a

community’s housing costs, hence the concerns outlined above about their impact on

affordability. Increasing housing prices are great if you’re an existing homeowner, but can be a

struggle for potential homebuyers or renters.

Unintended Consequences on Local Businesses – We stated earlier that having more

people in our communities is generally considered a good thing for local business, but there

can be negative impacts on these establishments as STR tenants typically support different

businesses than residents. While residents and tourists both enjoy a great restaurant, tourists

generally don’t need a hardware store or a full-service pharmacy. Even if they use these stores

while visiting, it’s usually for minor purchases that aren’t enough to sustain these businesses

over the long term. The hardware store needs people to buy wood and paint, and the

pharmacy needs people to fill prescriptions. If just 5% of a community’s housing converts from

homeowners to short-term rental tenants, how does that affect the ability of the hardware

store or pharmacy, already on tight margins, to survive? Even the grocery store, which short-

term rental tenants may use to some extent, could end up struggling since visitors purchase

fewer groceries than full-time residents as they often eat out at local restaurants, or they’ve

packed their cars with a significant amount of groceries from home.

Potential Change to Property Assessment Classification – Local assessors consider a

variety of factors when calculating an assessment, including whether the property is used for

residential or commercial purposes. Some jurisdictions are starting to question the practice of

continuing to tax properties used for short-term rentals at the lower residential rate. In

Colorado, the El Paso County Assessor’s Office took up this question recently, and is

considering shifting STR properties to the commercial tax rate.

Potential for Inadequate Insurance Coverage – Many homeowner policies consider the

practice of short-term rentals to be a commercial endeavor and will not cover them under a

standard homeowner policy. Some may provide coverage for only one or two rentals per year

(think special events such as if the Super Bowl or Olympics were in town), while others may

offer a separate rider that can be purchased. Regardless of how the property is assessed, it is

likely that many properties operating as short-term rentals are underinsured.

Options for the Municipal Regulation of Short-Term Rentals

Use of property for the short-term rental of a dwelling unit (or portion thereof) constitutes a form

of land use, and can therefore be regulated by the municipal zoning code. But as they say, the

devil’s in the details. The complexity of local regulations will likely depend on the amount of short

-term rental activity in a particular municipality and the number of problems arising from their

existence. Given this, communities across the country are still working out how best to regulate

STRs. There are a dizzying number of ideas circulating for how to address them – some will prove

better than others, but one important consideration to keep coming back to as you evaluate

options is whether or not the regulation is enforceable.

Whether your community is excited or cautious about short-term rentals, the reality is that every

single municipality in Dutchess County has STRs operating within their boundaries, and they

appear to be here to stay, no pun intended. Municipalities might consider some level of

regulation, depending on local circumstances; the following are emerging as baseline ideas for

municipalities to consider including in local regulations:

Clearly State Goals and Objectives — Start here! Before you sit down and begin drafting

code, gather a cross-section of residents, stakeholders, and community leaders to have a

conversation about the many facets of short-term rentals. Understand the pros and cons, and

Plan On It, September/October 2019 Issue

• Primary Residence – A housing unit in which an owner or lessee resides for a minimum of

9 months of the year. [NOTE: The minimum timeframe can be customized by the

community. Some codes may already define this term. Alternatively, the municipality may

be able to rely on the determination of primary residency as it applies to New York State’s

Basic STAR Exemption/Credit program; if a homeowner has applied for and been granted

the Basic STAR Exemption/Credit, that could be deemed sufficient proof of residency for

the purposes of a local STR ordinance.]

• Hosted Primary Residence STR – A Short-Term Rental unit where the owner or lessee

hosts one or more guests in a bedroom or some portion of the unit and is generally

present for the duration of the rental period, in particular during overnight hours.

• Unhosted Primary Residence STR – A Short-Term Rental unit where the owner or lessee

leaves the unit for a period of time – for example, over a weekend, when traveling for

work, or while on vacation – and rents out all or part of the unit in his or her absence.

• Vacation Rental – An entire residential unit that is not a Primary Residence and is rented

to guests on a short-term basis, typically fewer than 30 nights. [NOTE: Consider defining

this if your community isn’t limiting STRs to a primary residence only.]

Limit STRs to Primary Residences — Many of the concerns raised regarding short-term

rentals are typically associated with those operating as a business investment, rather than by a

permanent resident of the community. Limiting this use to a primary residence ensures that

the STR homeowner benefits are attainable, while the negative effects on neighborhoods and

housing availability are attenuated.

Require an Annual Operating Permit — Requiring short-term rental hosts to obtain an

operating permit, renewable every year or two, gives the municipality an opportunity to ensure

talk openly and honestly about what is best

for your community. Based on this, decide

what your community’s underlying goals and

objectives are related to short-term rentals,

and use those to inform the creation of local

regulations.

Provide Clear Definitions — Carefully

crafted definitions are the cornerstone of a

good zoning code, and clearly defining short

-term rentals is an important component of

a municipality’s approach to regulating

STRs. Be sure to differentiate between the

characteristics of an STR versus other types

of lodging options that may be defined in

your code. And while we encourage

municipalities to consider language carefully

and within their local context, the following

examples of STR terminology, adapted from

the Sustainable Economies Law Center

report entitled Regulating Short-Term

Rentals: A Guidebook for Equitable Policy,

may be helpful:

• Short-Term Rental (STR) – The rental of

a Primary Residence or portion thereof

for a period of fewer than 30 nights, for

which the guest compensates an owner

or lessee of the unit.

Dutchess County Extends

Offer to Local Municipalities

As mentioned earlier, Dutchess County

contracts with Host Compliance for

help in identifying short-term rentals

to aid in the collection of the required

occupancy tax. Host Compliance can

also work directly with local

municipalities to provide a variety of

services related to STR identification,

compliance monitoring, and more.

Beginning in 2020, Dutchess County will

offer to cover the cost of the Address

Identification and Compliance Monitoring

modules for local municipalities who

have adopted short-term rental

regulations and are looking to reduce

some of the burden of enforcement.

The County is reaching out directly to

all mayors and supervisors with more

details on this offer.

Plan On It, September/October 2019 Issue

compliance with local regulations and opens up a line of communication with the STR host. An

onerous and expensive registration process might encourage units to operate illegally, while a

relatively simple permit process would encourage host participation and could help keep the

recordkeeping manageable for the municipality. In addition to the typical information included

in any permit request, consider the following additional requirements for STRs:

• Proof of primary residence via eligibility for the NYS Basic STAR Exemption/Credit

program, or the provision of at least two documents such as driver’s license, voter

registration, NYS income tax returns, etc.

• Name and contact information for person(s) responsible for handling non-emergency

issues and complaints during a rental.

• Inspection or self-certification of compliance with building and fire safety requirements,

such as operational smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, proper accommodations for

exiting the unit during an emergency, etc. Requiring a municipal inspection of STRs can be

challenging as many of our communities don’t have sufficient staffing levels. Where this is

an issue, municipalities could provide a list of building and fire safety requirements to the

STR permit applicant, and require they provide a notarized affidavit of compliance with all

safety items as part of their permit application.

• Consider charging only a modest permitting fee to cover administrative costs, which will

encourage participation. Fines can be structured to help cover the costs of enforcement

and investigation of complaints, placing the cost burden on those with violations rather

than all STR hosts.

• Require inclusion of the STR permit number in any advertising for the short-term rental

unit.

• Require proof of adequate insurance coverage by the STR property owner. Some online

rental platforms offer certain protections but it may be difficult to determine what is

covered. A municipality could decide that rental platform protections are not adequate,

and require separate insurance coverage.

• Include a penalty fee structure, and a process for revoking a permit.

Additional Regulations to Consider in Municipalities with Higher Concentrations

of Short-Term Rentals

In addition to the baseline items listed above, communities that have a higher number of short-

term rentals and/or areas of STR concentration might consider additional oversight:

Disincentivize STRs as an Investment Opportunity — Whether or not your community is

currently feeling the pinch on housing availability that can come along with a burgeoning short-

term rental market, it is important to understand that, in most cases, any new short-term

rental is likely displacing something that was formerly a long-term rental unit or owner-

occupied home. To preserve housing availability, some communities are implementing a

minimum occupancy timeframe when people first buy or rent a housing unit. This might only

be a consideration if your municipality does not require the STR be the owner’s primary

residence. This is intended to deter the purchase of a unit for the sole purpose of conducting

short-term rentals. For example, a new owner might be required to occupy the unit for a

minimum of six months, two years, or whatever timeframe the municipality feels is enough to

deter the purchase of property for short-term rental as an investment opportunity.

Require Plans for Parking, Garbage Removal, Etc. — Where short-term rentals may be

located in close proximity to neighboring properties, or in more densely populated locations

such as villages and cities, municipalities can require hosts to carefully outline how things like

parking and garbage removal will be handled.

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Require Special Use Permit — If your community is concerned about neighborhood

character and site design considerations, or if non-primary residence STRs will be allowed,

requiring a special use permit gives the Planning Board a role in determining where and how

an STR might be appropriately located.

Sounds Good, But Difficult to Enforce

In the fast-changing world of short-term rental regulation, communities have been testing a

variety of ways to effectively regulate STRs without creating enforcement struggles. These ideas

are mentioned often but could be more difficult to enforce:

Prohibiting STRs Altogether — Prohibiting short-term rentals may sound like a tempting

option to communities dealing with numerous complaints or enforcement issues. But while it

may appear to be a simple solution, a full prohibition on STRs can be extremely difficult to

enforce. We know from data collected by Host Compliance that every single community in

Dutchess County has short-term rentals. Even if a municipality prohibits the use, determined

STR hosts are finding ways to evade detection and continue to operate “under the radar.”

Rather than rely on this somewhat combative approach, we recommend communities engage

in an open conversation with a variety of stakeholders (residents, STR hosts, code enforcement

officials, etc.) in order to determine if there may be some common ground in acknowledging

the benefits of short-term rentals, and then give consideration to adopting regulations that

allow for short-term rentals while addressing some of the issues that can arise. If a

municipality ultimately decides that a full prohibition is the way to go, use of an online service

that can identify illegal units may aid in local enforcement.

Limit Number of Permits Per Block or Neighborhood — In areas experiencing a higher

concentration of short-term rentals, such as village or urban neighborhoods, concerns may be

raised about a shift in neighborhood character from local to transient. To help reduce the

possibility that entire blocks or neighborhoods could shift to short-term rentals, municipalities

might decide to place a cap on the number of annual operating permits issued in a given

geographical area. However, this can be more complicated than it may seem. How are the

boundaries of the chosen geography, such as a “neighborhood,” drawn? What number of units

would be appropriate to achieve the community’s goals? Will the municipality face continual

pressure to increase the limit? And ultimately, once the permit limit is achieved, will this policy

actually push some short-term rentals underground, defeating the purpose of having a

permitting system in the first place?

Limiting Number of Rental Nights — Some communities include a cap on the number of

nights per calendar year, either for any STR or just for unhosted units. Information about the

number of nights rented across multiple online STR platforms is not currently easy to get, so

without easy access to this data, enforcement becomes very challenging.

Are We Done Yet?

If you’ve made it this far, congratulations — you are officially a planning and zoning enthusiast!

And as you’ve probably figured out by now, short-term rentals are . . . complicated. From

identifying your community’s underlying goals and objectives regarding STRs, to figuring out how

to balance the pros and cons, and remembering the concept of enforceability when crafting local

regulations, the task of addressing short-term rentals can be time-consuming. And although this

article focuses on the housing aspects of short-term rentals, municipalities should be aware that

some of these online platforms facilitate the rental of things like tents, campers and motorhomes,

pools, storage spaces, driveways, and a variety of other nonconventional items and experiences.

When crafting local regulations, be sure to keep the larger sharing economy in mind to avoid

problematic conflicts or loopholes.

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Click here to view past issues of Plan On It. 
This newsletter was developed by the Dutchess County Department of Planning and Development, in 
conjunction with the Dutchess County Planning Federation. 
10 
Plan On It, September/October 2019 Issue 
 
More Information 
The Effect of Home-Sharing on House Prices and Rents: Evidence from 
Airbnb, National Bureau of Economic Research, California State University, 
Marshall School of Business at University of Southern California, revised June 
2019 (last accessed from website October 2019)  
Regulating Short-Term Rentals: A Guidebook for Equitable Policy, Sustainable 
Economies Law Center, March 2016 (last accessed from website October 
2019) 
A Practical Guide to Effectively Regulating Short-Term Rentals on the Local 
Government Level, Host Compliance 
Could You Bnb My Neighbor? A Planner’s Take on the Sharing Economy, 
Jeffrey Goodman, first published in APA’s Planning magazine, February 2016 
(last accessed from Host Compliance website October 2019)  
Inside Airbnb’s ‘Guerrilla War’ Against Local Governments, WIRED Magazine, 
May 2019 
RESOURCES tab on Host Compliance website, includes articles, webinars, 
ordinance tool, and more 
It’s also important to step back from the 
regulatory concerns for a moment and 
acknowledge what this meteoric rise of short-
term rentals in Dutchess County signifies — our 
area is blessed with beauty and diversity, from 
bustling main streets in our cities and villages 
to a wealth of historic sites, vibrant natural 
resources, and wonderful recreational 
amenities. Short-term rentals are a user-driven 
market and Dutchess County clearly has 
something for everyone.   
Share Your Thoughts 
We’d love to hear your thoughts 
on the issues and regulatory 
challenges surrounding short-term 
rentals in your community: 
Click to E-Mail us about STRs 
This is a complex, fast-moving area of consideration for our local communities and we understand 
that it may seem a bit overwhelming. We’ve pulled together this summary information in an effort 
to help local municipalities navigate the still-shifting sands of short-term rentals, and look forward 
to continued collaboration on the issue.  