Industry witness tells Vermont committee short-term rentals are small share of housing but large tourism driver, urges statewide data collection

Julie Marks, founder and director of the Vermont Short Term Rental Alliance, told the Vermont House Committee on General & Housing on Jan. 31 that short-term rentals make up a small share of Vermont s housing stock but deliver outsized economic benefits and that the state should invest in comprehensive, centralized data before crafting new regulations.

Marks said the industry she represents is "a member-managed business association" with more than 360 members in Vermont and that short-term rentals are legally defined as dwellings rented for fewer than 30 consecutive days under state law. She told the committee that "short term rentals make up 3% of our housing stock, and 60% of our visitor capacity," and that short-term guests spent an estimated $650,000,000 in 2023, generating "upwards of $54,000,000" in meals-and-rooms tax revenue.

The testimony emphasized distinctions in Vermont law. Marks said state authority for short-term rental regulation was established under Act 10 of 2018 and involves the Department of Public Safety ivision of Fire Safety and the Department of Taxes. She also…