Town Board continues public hearing on short-term rental local law to July 10 after mixed public comments

The Town of Goshen Town Board on June 12 continued the public hearing on proposed local law (Introductory Local Law 3 of 2025) that would prohibit short-term rentals in the town, setting a continuation date of July 10.

Why it matters: The proposed law would affect listings on platforms such as Airbnb and was described to the board as an outright ban in the version before the board. Residents and board members raised enforcement challenges, potential carve-outs for owner-occupied properties and farms, and the need for clear definitions and enforcement mechanisms.

Public commenters and board discussion: Neil Howard, a resident, told the board he expected the ordinance to bar pickups or disturbances later in the morning but said the broader issue for him was how the law defines “residential property.” He asked for clearer definitions to avoid enforcement problems in mixed-use or rural zones.

George Feit of Goshen said he reviewed village regulations and suggested a permit- and-registration model that would require inspections, insurance and owner presence; he described a village approach that limits non-owner-occupied rentals and imposes operational constraints. Feit also reported that an Airbnb listing near his property advertised capacity for “16 plus guests” and said enforcement was difficult on current rules.

Other commenters and board members noted farm owners who rely on occasional short-term stays as supplementary income; Sal (JRC chair) urged caution about prohibiting owner-occupied options and suggested the code might be amended later to preserve limited, owner-occupied uses.

Board members and staff described the procedural path: the law is subject to the town’s referral requirements (GML 239) and the planning board’s review period. Town staff said the planning board had the item on its agenda and the earliest guaranteed action date for the town board would be the July 10 meeting if the planning-board comment period expires by then.

Enforcement and next steps: Several members of the public and board voiced skepticism about enforceability whether the town adopts a permit-based model or an outright ban. After discussion, the board voted to continue the public hearing to July 10 to allow time for planning-board comments and to permit additional written feedback.

What the board will decide: The board may vote to adopt, amend, or reject the introductory local law when the hearing is next scheduled; staff said the board can act on July 10 if planning-board referral and other procedural windows have closed by then.