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Tenafly council signals support for short‑term rental ordinance after resident complaint about Airbnb
Summary
Council asked staff to finalize an ordinance limiting rentals to under 30 days, discussed enforcement and penalties, and heard a resident complain about a nightly rental on his cul‑de‑sac.
The Tenafly Borough Council asked staff to finalize a draft short‑term rental ordinance and return it for formal consideration after council discussion and a public comment describing neighborhood impacts from an active nightly rental.
Staff presented a draft limited to rentals of 30 days or less and said the council could choose a shorter threshold (for example, seven or 14 days). The draft sets a civil penalty structure with a daily fine for repeat violations; the draft as presented included a maximum penalty—earlier drafts referenced fines up to $1,000 per day for continuing violations. Staff said the state preempts rentals over 30 days, so zoning and local regulation would apply only to stays of 30 days or less.
A Tenafly resident, Richard Fontay, told the council his fiancée Christina Scalaro and their family have been disturbed by an Airbnb across the street that is listed at about $400 a night and is regularly rented on weekends. “It’s a transient situation…that’s a little bit of a distressing security concern,” Fontay said, describing frequent out‑of‑state plates, groups that create parking congestion on a cul‑de‑sac, and recurring trash left at the driveway.
Council discussion focused on enforcement and deterrence. Councilmembers noted enforcement would rely on resident complaints and that police and building departments would not detect many short‑term listings without notice. “Enforcement is gonna be an issue…your residents are gonna have to report it to the borough,” one councilmember said. Council directed staff to prepare the ordinance for first reading and to return with language addressing permitted uses, penalties, and a process to notify platforms (Airbnb/VRBO) if advertisements are prohibited.
Staff said they would schedule the ordinance for first reading and that the council could provide further public comment when it returns. The council did not vote on the ordinance at the meeting; the clerk will circulate the draft for review and a first reading will be scheduled.
