Village of Pittsford proposes law limiting short-term rentals like Airbnb

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — The Village of Pittsford Board of Trustees held a public hearing Tuesday to gather input on a proposal which would codify a system of rules under which short-term rentals could operate.

Under the proposal, short-term rentals would be permitted in hosted, owner-occupied single-family dwellings, with up to four renters per rental period.

A permit would be required for unhosted short-term rentals of a single-family home, or short-term rentals of an upper floor unit. Permits would be limited and would require an application fee, a hotel occupancy tax certificate, proof of $1 million in insurance, off road parking, and more.

Some at the meeting complained the rules were too onerous while those supporting the legislation argued they were necessary to keep the peace.

“I think the legislation was derivative of really feeling residents and the fabric of a neighborhood could be compromised by short-term rentals coming into a neighborhood,” Village Mayor Alyssa Plummer said. “On the flip side, they’ve been around and there’s never been a complaint. People don’t come to the village for spring break.”

Plummer said the legislation would likely need to be revised before it could pass.

The village already began drafting a rental registry which passed earlier this year.

Read the proposal

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