City’s short-term rental registration portal goes live; staff outlines documentation, season dates and enforcement stance

City staff announced at the Oct. 31 meeting that the Saratoga Springs short-term rental registration portal is now live and that the portal URL will be posted on the city website. Staff said the portal accepts electronic payments and that applicants must submit proof-of-ownership documents and a signed affidavit allowing staff to proceed with licensing before a property inspection by the fire department.

Staff said the registration applies to activity dating back to June 1 (the city’s seasonal cycle runs June–May) and that renewal will begin June 1 each year. Officials emphasized that the licensing requirement applies when a property is listed for short-term rental, not only when a booking occurs; staff said that delisting a property from short-term platforms is a positive action demonstrating the owner’s intent not to operate short-term rentals.

Enforcement tone was described as informative rather than punitive: staff said they do not intend to ‘‘bust people’’ but expect market participants to comply, and that some operators who have converted to long-term rentals should remove short-term listings. Staff asked the council to expect questions and allowable time for compliance as the market adjusts to the licensing standard. The council did not vote on new enforcement rules at the meeting but included related licensing items on the forthcoming agenda.