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Rockland council adopts short‑term rental reporting and audit rules to implement 2025 state law
Summary
Council amended Rockland Municipal Code Chapter 5.22 to require short‑term rental platforms to report listings, display city permit numbers, and allow city audits of facilitator records to improve TOT collection and neighborhood enforcement; the measure passed 4–1.
The Rockland City Council voted April 14 to introduce and advance amendments to Rockland Municipal Code Chapter 5.22 to align local rules with the Short Term Rental Facilitator Act of 2025.
Code Enforcement Program Manager Ryan Taylor told the council the ordinance would establish three principal changes: (1) facilitator reporting requirements so platforms like Airbnb and VRBO provide property addresses, listing URLs and parcel numbers (quarterly for all listings or monthly for TOT remittance); (2) mandatory display of a city-issued permit number and business license information on listings and authority to deactivate noncompliant listings; and (3) audit authority enabling the city to audit facilitator records and pursue civil action for unpaid transient occupancy tax (TOT).
Council members asked clarifying questions about definitions and enforcement. Council Member Janda asked whether the state requires the city to adopt these measures; Taylor responded that the law does not force adoption but that the tools for auditing platforms are only available to jurisdictions that adopt the enabling ordinance. "It's not a requirement by the state, but in order to have the tools to facilitate the auditing of some of the platforms, we'd need to adopt it," Taylor said.
Council discussed the local 90‑day annual cap on short‑term rentals; staff said short‑term rentals are defined as stays of 30 days or less and Rockland maintains a 90‑day cap on rental activity. After discussion, council moved and passed the ordinance amendment with four votes in favor and one no vote.
Next steps: staff will return the ordinance for second reading and adoption and begin implementing facilitator reporting and listing‑display requirements once the ordinance is adopted.
