Council moves short-term rental ordinance to second reading, sets $500 annual registration fee

Fall River City Council voted to advance a proposed short-term rental ordinance to second reading and adopted an amendment setting the annual registration fee at $500.

The ordinance, as discussed in the meeting, would allow short-term rentals (listings such as Airbnb) only where the owner occupies the unit for a minimum of nine months per year; residential units in single-family zoning districts would not be eligible. Corporation Counsel Alan Rumsey and Building Commissioner Glenn Hathaway told councilors the draft was expressly designed to prevent investor-owned units used solely for short-term rentals from reducing long-term housing supply.

Councilors asked how residency would be proven. The proposed approval process requires a sworn affidavit and supporting documents such as a driver's license plus a utility bill or voter-registration evidence to show the owner's primary residence. Staff noted a statutory state registration also exists and requires commercial-style insurance (the transcript references a $1 million policy requirement under state rules); that state registration and insurance would apply whether or not the local ordinance is adopted.

Councilors also discussed operational issues and enforcement. Hathaway said building-code and safety standards apply; staff cited past cases in which short-term rental activity was shut down because properties lacked required means of egress or other code compliance. Hathaway recounted a downtown case where an owner operating weekend short-term rentals was closed because the first-floor apartment lacked a second means of egress and appropriate accessibility.

On fees: councilors proposed and adopted on the floor an amendment setting the annual registration fee at $500 (the clerk's office will finalize fee-schedule placement). The council then voted to recommend passage to second reading as amended; the meeting recorded the motions, seconds and "Aye" voices. The transcript does not include a roll-call tally by name for the vote.

Why it matters: the ordinance aims to preserve long-term rental housing by preventing investor-run short-term rental conversions in single-family zones and by requiring owner-occupancy for units that qualify for short-term rental use.

Next steps: the ordinance will return for second reading with the $500 annual registration fee included; staff said the clerk's office will finalize application and registration procedures and that state registration/insurance requirements remain in force.