Westerly council presses state lawmakers for clarity on short-term rental rules while lawsuits proceed

Short-term rental regulation drew sustained attention at the council meeting as councilors, citizens and visiting legislators discussed policy options and legal constraints.

Council members described divergent local perspectives: some neighborhoods want protections and limits on density, while other areas see short-term rentals as local economic drivers. Several councilors said they want more local control and asked state legislators for guidance and technical help.

Senator Victoria Goo and Representative Tina Spears said the short-term rental landscape is unsettled while active lawsuits run in several jurisdictions; they said zoning-based local regulation has been more defensible in recent decisions and that the General Assembly has been cautious about sweeping statewide regulation while litigation is pending. Senator Goo offered to help the town connect with Representative Lauren Carson, who chairs the short-term-rental commission, and other legislators working on related bills.

Councilors said they have had local workshops and will continue to consider zoning-based options and density caps, and they requested further assistance from state lawmakers and staff to inform local drafting. The council and the visiting legislators agreed to continue the conversation and to share resources.

Why it matters: short-term rentals are a high-priority issue for many coastal communities. Local zoning changes can shape where short-term rentals operate, but legal challenges mean towns must craft defensible regulations and may need legislative changes to clarify authority or remove preemption clauses.