Short-Term Rentals Law In Discussion In Clinton

To preserve the quality of its residential areas, the Village of Clinton will request that owners of short-term rental properties register with the Village.

The decision goes along with the upcoming regulations by Oneida County, which start Jan. 1.

The County will require all short-term rental owners to register and have them subject to the county’s 5 percent occupancy tax that hotels and motels pay.

Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente said this will bring in an estimated $800,000 a year in revenue.

Village of Clinton Board members, Mayor Elizabeth Tantillo and Village Attorney William Schmitt discussed the process at last week’s Village Board meeting.

Schmitt came up with a draft of the new village law for the Board.

At the Dec. 10 meeting, Board members will discuss their input on the law.

They are looking to have a public hearing at their January meeting. One of the areas to be decided is a definition of a short-term rental. The county and state define it as a rental less than 30 days. The Board’s concern is to limit the number of short-term rentals in a defined zone.

“Do you want to maintain the feel of a neighborhood,’’ Tantillo asked. “That’s our goal.’’

Schmitt said the Village’s registration process can be as simple as the owner showing proof the rental is registered with the county.

The county will also require the owner have in place a number of safety features.

The county’s fee to register is $200. Clinton is considering a fee of $25.

Tantillo said the Village is also looking at a business designation requirement.

She said there is no information on who owns a building and who is using it. In other matters from the meeting, the Board shifted $14,000 from the fund balance to retirement payments.

Approval was given to borrow $500,000 for a new vacuum truck.

If the Village receives a grant for this, the amount will be covered.

The Village will borrow $2 million for the renovation of the Village Green project.

This is part of the $10 million Downtown Revitalization ...