Goshen board debates clarity and enforcement provisions in draft short-term rental local law

GOSHEN — The board reviewed an introductory local law that would ban short‑term rentals in the town and raised questions about how the draft’s enforcement and penalty sections are written.

Speakers said the draft law (referred to as Local Law 13 in the meeting packet) broadly prohibits short‑term rentals but excludes traditional transient accommodations — hotels, motels and registered bed‑and‑breakfasts — which would remain subject to their existing permitting processes. Several board members and residents commended the town board for listening to earlier public comment and for moving to restrict non‑owner‑occupied short‑term rentals.

However, attendees said the penalty language on pages two and three of the draft appears internally inconsistent: the draft sets fines that escalate on subsequent convictions but lists multiple dollar amounts ($350, $700, $1,000, $1,500) and terms that are unclear in how they apply to first or repeat offenses and to imminent-hazard situations. The board urged the planning department and town counsel to clarify which fine applies to which offense and to ensure enforcement language is consistent across the draft.

Members also suggested the planning board be given time to review and comment on the draft before the planning board’s hearing the next night, and requested the draft be posted to the planning department agenda packet so planning-board members have time to read it in advance. Several speakers emphasized that owner‑occupied, permitted bed‑and‑breakfast operations remain allowable under the draft and that the primary aim is to restrict absentee short‑term rental operators that had prompted community complaints.

No vote was taken on the draft at this meeting; board members asked planning staff to clarify the penalty scheme and circulate the corrected text in time for planning‑board consideration.