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Rep. Larry Saitlitz outlines H242 to limit short‑term rentals to one unit per parcel and require host occupancy
Summary
Representative Larry Saitlitz introduced H242 to cap short‑term rentals at one unit per parcel, add a host‑occupancy requirement, and create a registration regime. Municipalities with existing ordinances would be grandfathered and towns could opt out by local vote for some provisions.
Representative Larry Saitlitz (identified in the hearing as the sponsor of H242) introduced an act to regulate short‑term rentals statewide by (1) limiting short‑term rentals to one unit per parcel, (2) imposing a host‑occupancy requirement for many rentals, and (3) creating a state registration requirement.
Saitlitz said short‑term rentals have increased across the state and that exact data on the magnitude of conversions from long‑term to short‑term housing are incomplete. He told the committee the bill aims to head off further conversion of family housing into vacation rentals by establishing a baseline statewide standard while allowing municipalities that already regulate short‑term rentals to remain grandfathered.
Under the bill as presented, a duplex counted as one parcel could have only one short‑term rental unit; accessory dwelling units would be covered by the same limit. The host‑occupancy requirement generally would require a long‑term resident or on‑site contact, which the sponsor said would make it difficult to operate single‑family homes as short‑term rentals. The bill also would require owners to register short‑term rentals and provide specified information as part of registration.
The measure includes opt‑out provisions: towns could opt out of the one‑per‑parcel limit and/or opt out of the host‑occupancy requirement, but the sponsor said the opt‑out would require a town‑wide vote and notice periods so communities have time to choose. Municipalities that have already passed local short‑term rental ordinances would be grandfathered.
Committee members raised concerns and tradeoffs: some towns rely on short‑term rentals for lodging where no hotel supply exists, travelers and temporary workers (including traveling nurses) use short‑term rentals, and second‑home owners use rentals to offset seasonal costs. Saitlitz said those are policy tradeoffs and that the bill could be modified (for example, changing the allowed number from one to two units) based on committee input and further data.
No fiscal estimate or formal vote was recorded during the introduction. Sponsor suggested further study and data gathering to quantify the relationship between short‑term rentals and long‑term housing availability.
