Town of Walton introduces local law to regulate short-term rentals, schedules Aug. 5 public hearing

Supervisor Joseph Cetta and the Town of Walton Board on July 8 voted to introduce a local law to regulate short-term, or transient, rentals and set a public hearing for Aug. 5, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. at 129 North Street, Walton.

The introductory resolution, offered by Supervisor Cetta and adopted on a roll-call vote (Aye: Cetta, Armstrong, Govern, Wood; Absent: Rodriguez-Betancourt), triggers a permitting regime the town says is aimed at assuring minimum safety and regulatory standards as tourism in the area increases. The law would be enacted under the New York State Municipal Home Rule Law and Town Law, according to the text presented to the board.

Under the proposed rules, any dwelling rented for 30 days or less would be a 'Transient Rental Unit' and would require a separate permit for each unit. Applications must be filed with the Town Clerk and include owner and local manager contact information, off-street parking counts, occupancy information and either a floor plan or room descriptions. The 'local manager' must be named on the application and must reside within 20 miles of the Town of Walton; that person may serve as a local contact day or night for complaints or emergencies.

The Code Enforcement Officer (CEO) would inspect units for fire and safety compliance and has 45 days to determine if an application is complete; the CEO may delay or refer functions to a neighboring municipality if necessary. Permits would be one-year in duration, must be visibly displayed in the unit, and renewal applications require either an affidavit that nothing has changed or updated information and fees. Advertisements and listings for permitted units would be required to include the permit number and the property’s house rules.

Safety standards spelled out in the draft include hard-wired or Wi‑Fi fire alarms with cellular backup, fire extinguishers in kitchens or within 10 feet of outdoor fire features, emergency access for vehicles, posted emergency contact information and safe, illuminated walkways from parking to entrances. Occupancy limits are generally set at no more than two persons over the age of two per bedroom unless fire and safety codes or the CEO determine otherwise.

The draft law also sets an enforcement system: complaints must be made in writing to the Town Clerk; the CEO will investigate and may issue notices requiring corrective action, revoke permits, or pursue criminal or civil remedies. Penalties specified in the text range from fines up to $350 for a first offense to $700–$1,000 for third or subsequent offenses within a five-year period; the law allows for imprisonment up to six months where applicable and for the town to recover enforcement costs and attorney fees from violators.

The board’s vote formally introduced the text and scheduled the public hearing; next steps are the Aug. 5 public hearing and any subsequent amendments or formal adoption actions following the hearing.