Meadow council edges closer to short-term rental ordinance, sets fines up to $750

Meadow Town Council members reviewed a draft ordinance tightening rules for short-term rentals, including enforcement measures that would expose unlicensed operators to fines and potential license revocation.

A staff member reading the draft recited the proposed enforcement language: "Any owner of any dwelling within the town of Meadow who allows or permits occupation of said dwelling as a short term rental as defined herein without having obtained a business license in accordance with the provisions of this section shall be in violation of this section, shall be guilty of an infraction, which shall be punishable by a fine of up to $750 for each of such a violation." The staff member added, "I think that's good to have there."

The draft also says that a dwelling on the waiting list at the time of a violation would be removed from the list and not considered for a short-term rental business license unless a new application is submitted. Staff described a 45-day reapplication window for new owners, saying the town could use that period to review what type of business a new owner intends to operate and set the resolution to decrease the allowable number of rentals if desired.

Council members asked staff to confirm legal details, including whether the town may set minimum liability-insurance limits for short-term rentals. A staff member agreed to check the applicable legal requirements and "take a note to look at that," and said they would revise the draft and produce a fresh version for the next meeting.

Under the draft's enforcement framework, operating a licensed short-term rental in violation of the license terms would still be an infraction punishable by up to $750; each day of continued violation would be a separate offense. The draft allows the council, depending on the nature or extent of violations, to proceed with revocation of a short-term rental's business license after three or more violations within any 12-month period under the town's general business license ordinance.

Council members agreed to give staff time to rewrite the draft and to meet again before scheduling a public hearing. No formal vote on the ordinance took place at this meeting; a committee member moved to adjourn, the motion was seconded, members voted by voice and the meeting ended.

The council directed staff to return a revised draft for additional review prior to any public hearing or formal vote.