Milford adopts 12-month moratorium on new or expanded short-term rentals

The Milford Town Board on March 4 adopted Local Law No. 1 of 2026, imposing a 12-month moratorium on establishing or expanding short-term rentals in the Town of Milford. The motion to adopt the local law was made by Council Member Kristen Velasco and seconded by Council Member Jessie Thorsland; the recorded vote was Austin Partridge Aye, Harold Couse Absent, Vera Sosnowski Aye, Jessie Thorsland Aye and Kristen Velasco Aye.

The local law defines short-term rentals consistent with the Town zoning code as rental or lease of any dwelling unit for a period of 30 days or less, limits occupancy to two persons per bedroom plus one person (unless further restricted by the Otsego County Code Enforcement Office), and exempts short-term rentals lawfully established prior to the effective date. The moratorium bars acceptance, processing or issuance of new applications for special use permits, site-plan approvals, certificates of occupancy, or other Town-level approvals that would establish or expand a short-term rental occupancy use for 12 months from the law’s effective date; the moratorium may be extended once by up to six months by Town Board resolution.

The law assigns administration and enforcement to the Town of Milford Code Enforcement Officer and establishes escalating fines for violations (first violation punishable by up to $150; subsequent fines increasing to a maximum of $500). The local law takes effect upon filing with the New York Department of State, per the law’s Section 11.

Board members said the moratorium is intended to provide time for staff, counsel and the public to review and update the town’s short-term-rental rules, including adding a formal complaint mechanism and revising permitting criteria. The board also agreed to consult the Town Attorney regarding whether applications already in process may proceed during the moratorium.