Council refers landlord and short‑term rental licensing to ordinance committee after debate

Charlestown — The City Council on Oct. 21 directed staff to take a proposed update to the municipal licensing code — specifically adding landlords and short‑term lodging to the licensing list — to the ordinance committee for further drafting and legal review.

Lori Nysse (S13), who presented the issue, noted the city currently collects taxes from rental activity but does not require landlords to hold a city business license. "We are taxing landlords, but we are not requiring them to have a business license," she said, recommending the city consider whether to add landlords to the licensing code and, if so, what fees and implementation timeline would apply.

Councilors debated scope and implementation details: whether a private citizen who rents a single home should be treated the same as a commercial landlord, how existing rental licensing and certificate‑of‑occupancy processes overlap, and how short‑term lodging (Airbnb) fits into current categories (bed‑and‑breakfast, boarding house, or short‑term lodging). Council members noted uncertainty about enforcement and the need to identify operators who are remote or out‑of‑state.

After discussion, a motion to refer an ordinance to add landlords and short‑term lodging to the licensing code was moved and seconded and carried with two recorded nays (S3 and S?), and council asked staff to return with recommended language, fee options and an ordinance draft for committee review.

What’s next: The ordinance committee will examine definitions (landlord; short‑term lodging), potential exemptions, fee structures and enforcement mechanisms and return a draft ordinance to council for readings and public notice.