Board adopts short‑term rental fee schedule; members flag concerns for casual hosts

The Rhinebeck Town Board adopted a fee schedule for short‑term rental (STR) applications at its Jan. 6 meeting, while several board members said they were concerned the schedule may be burdensome for informal or occasional hosts.

Board member Dana Colleen Peterson said the adopted schedule is “a really high fee schedule for someone who's a casual host,” and urged the board to consider a future exemption for de minimis uses such as a homeowner renting a spare room for two weeks a year.

Board members noted the STR law was recently revised and that compliance requires staff review, inspections by fire inspectors and code enforcement officers who bill by the hour. Members raised enforcement questions — for example, how to track and police a short de minimis stay — but several said they would vote to approve the schedule and then consider targeted amendments later. At least one speaker cautioned that repeated exceptions could weaken the law.

Why it matters: The new fee schedule establishes the town's cost structure for STR permitting and enforcement. High fees can deter casual hosts and shift compliance burdens; conversely, lower fees might reduce resources available for inspections and enforcement.

What was said: “This is a really high fee schedule for someone who's a casual host,” Dana Colleen Peterson said during the meeting. The speaker suggested an exception for fewer than seven nights per year or a limited de minimis carve‑out, but acknowledged enforcement would be difficult.

Next steps: The board voted to adopt the fee schedule as presented on Jan. 6, 2025. Several board members indicated willingness to consider draft amendments or exceptions and to work with the zoning administrator on possible language for a future meeting.