Press Release, Branford RTM Rules & Ordinances Committee

The Rules & Ordinances Committee of the Branford Representative Town Meeting (RTM) is considering proposing an ordinance regulating short-term rentals.

Short-term rentals (STRs) are generally defined as rental of a dwelling or portion thereof for less than 30 days.

On the positive side, STRs allow property owners to generate income from property which might otherwise be vacant or underused. They give visitors an alternative to hotels and an opportunity to meet locals, especially in rentals where the host is present.

On the other hand, short-term rentals may result in more intense use of property and may impinge on the peaceful enjoyment of neighboring residents. Additionally, in a tight housing market, short-term rentals may reduce the stock of available long-term housing.

At a minimum, there may be more traffic and competition for street parking. Visitors may disturb neighbors by arriving and departing at odd hours. Moreover, particularly when the host is not present, visitors may use the property more intensively than long term residents would. There may be more people packed in, more intense use of community resources like beaches, and even parties and events like weddings far more frequently than long-term residents would have.

For these reasons, the Rules & Ordinances Committee is surveying the residents of Branford to determine what concerns, if any, the community may have with an increasing number of short-term rental properties in Branford.

Access to this survey can be made online at surveymonkey.com/r/Communityshorttermcommunitysurvey.

The survey will be active until Friday, Oct. 11, 2024.