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LOCAL LAWS\Set Public Hearing\Short Term Rentals—Revisions to Chapter 115—5-16-2022
RESOLUTION SETTING PUBLIC HEARINGS ON PROPOSED
LOCAL LAW NO._ OF 2022 TO AMEND QUEENSBURY TOWN CODE
CHAPTER 115 ENTITLED, "SHORT TERM RENTALS"
RESOLUTION NO. 92022
INTRODUCED BY:
WHO MOVED ITS ADOPTION
SECONDED BY:
WHEREAS, the Queensbury Town Board wishes to revise its regulations relative to
short-term rentals to help to ensure public health, safety and well-being within the Town, and
WHEREAS, the Town Board has prepared proposed Local Law No.: of 2022 which
provides such revisions, and
WHEREAS, New York Municipal Home Rule Law requires a Public Hearing to be held
prior to adoption of a Local Law,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED, that the Queensbury Town Board shall hold two (2) Public Hearings at the
Queensbury Activities Center, 742 Bay Road, Queensbury, New York on the following dates and
times:
1) Wednesday,June 8t1i,2022 at 3:00 p.m.; and
2) Monday, June 270', 2022 at 7:00 p.m.;
to consider proposed Local Law No.: _ of 2022 and to hear all interested persons, and at those
times may take any other actions authorized by law concerning proposed Local Law No.: _ of
2022, and
BE IT FURTHER,
RESOLVED, that the Town Board authorizes and directs the Town Clerk to publish and
post legal notice of the Public Hearings on proposed Local Law No.: of 2022 in the manner
provided by law, and shall make a copy of the proposed Local Law available for public
inspection in the Town Clerk's office following the adoption of this Resolution and until the
Public Hearing is closed.
Duly adopted this 160'day of May, 2022, by the following vote:
AYES
NOES
ABSENT:
J
LOCAL LAWS\Short Term Rental—Chapter 115 Revised—6-8 and 6-27-2022
LOCAL LAW NO.: OF 2022
A LOCAL LAW AMENDING CHAPTER 115 OF
THE QUEENSBURY TOWN CODE
RELATING TO SHORT-TERM RENTALS
BE IT ENACTED BY THE TOWN BOARD OF THE TOWN OF QUEENSBURYAS
FOLLOWS.
Section 1. Intent; Authority—This Local Law is adopted pursuant to New York
Municipal Home Rule Law.
Section 3. Amendment— Chapter 115 of the Queensbury Town Code, entitled "Short-
Term Rentals" is hereby amended to read as follows:
Chapter 115. Short-Term Rentals
§ 115-1. Purpose and intent; authority.
The Town Board has determined that short-term, transient rentals can be incompatible with the
sense of privacy, community and ambience currently enjoyed in residential neighborhoods in
the Town and have the potential to create a threat to the public health, safety and well-being
within the Town. The Board also recognizes that short-term rentals can attract visitors to the
Town and can provide an additional source of income to Town residents. Accordingly, the
Board wishes to provide regulations to protect against adverse effects of this use while
allowing it under appropriate circumstances. This Chapter is adopted pursuant to New York
Municipal Home Rule Law.
§ 115-2. Definitions.
As used in this Chapter, the following words shall have the meanings indicated:
DWELLING UNIT
One or more rooms designed, occupied or intended for occupancy as separate living
quarters, with provision for living, cooking, sanitary and sleeping facilities provided for
the exclusive use of one family or household.
RENTAL
Granting use or possession of a dwelling unit in whole or part to a person or group in
exchange for some form of valuable consideration.
SHORT-TERM RENTAL
A dwelling unit, which may or may not be inhabited by the owner of record or their
immediate family, that is rented, in whole or in part, for a period of less than 30
consecutive days to any person or entity, but not including a hotel, motel, inn,
campground or bed-and-breakfast as defined in Town Code Chapter 179-2-010 (Q.
SHORT-TERM RENTAL OWNER
All entities having an ownership interest in a dwelling unit which is used as a short-term
rental.
SHORT-TERM RENTAL PROPERTY
The entire area which is under the ownership or control of the short-term rental owner,
including, as applicable, the parcel of land on which a short-term rental is located,
together with the dwelling in which it is located and any other structures on the parcel.
§ 115-3. Short-term rental standards.
Short-term rentals shall comply with the following standards and requirements:
A. There shall be one functioning smoke detector in each sleeping room, one functioning
smoke detector and a carbon monoxide detector in another centrally located room and one
functioning and inspected fire extinguisher in the kitchen. Detectors must be in
compliance with New York State Property Maintenance Code.
B. All exterior doors shall be operational, and passageways to such doors shall be freely
accessible and unobstructed.
C. Electrical systems shall be serviceable with no visible defects or unsafe conditions.
D. All fireplaces, fireplace inserts or other fuel-burning heaters and furnaces shall be vented
and properly installed. If installed, all fireplaces, fireplace inserts or other types of fuel-
burning heaters (excluding furnaces) shall have proper, written, safe operating
instructions.provided to any party renting the short-term rental.
E. Each sleeping room shall have an exterior exit that opens directly to the outside or an
emergency escape or rescue window which meets the current state and Town building
codes requirements for an escape window.
F. The number of vehicles permitted overnight at the short-term rental property is limited to
1 vehicle per bedroom. The number of bedrooms set forth in the Town of Queensbury's
assessment records shall be used for purposes of this section. Overnight on-street parking
is not allowed. Available parking spaces (one space per car) shall limit parking to such
number of spaces. On-street day parking shall not impede local residents or public free
entrance and exit to the neighborhood.
G. Short-term rental owners shall establish written rules and regulations for the short-term
rental. The rules and regulations are expected to be activated when rentals are active. The
content and intent of these rules and regulations is to assure public health, safety and
general welfare by promoting a clean, wholesome and attractive environment for the
owner's property, adjacent property owners and the neighborhood. This document shall
also list the penalties for violation of such rules or regulations. The rules will specifically
address the penalties contained in this Chapter; see § 115-5. The renter must sign
acknowledgment of these rules and regulations. A copy of the signed acknowledgement
statement shall be maintained on the property and made immediately available upon
request from law enforcement officers or Town Buildings and Codes personnel. The
rules and regulations shall be enforced by the short-term rental owner. As a minimum,
the rules and regulations shall address prohibition of the following behaviors: fighting,
violence, tumultuous or threatening behavior, unreasonable noise, abusive or obscene
language or gestures in public. Quiet hours for the purpose of this Chapter shall mean
between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. and shall be maintained by all rental
occupants and visitors at the rental property.
H. Provisions shall be made by the short-term rental owner prior to actual rental for weekly
garbage removal during rental periods. Garbage containers shall be secured with tight-
fitting covers at all times to prevent leakage, spillage and odors, and be placed where they
are not clearly visible from the street or road except as required for pickup times.
I. A house number visible from the street or road shall be maintained.
J. Short-term rentals shall comply with all local, state and federal laws and regulations.
K. The maximum occupancy for each short-term rental shall be two people per bedroom plus
two. For example, a short-term rental with three bedrooms is allowed eight occupants.
The number of bedrooms is determined by the RPS database maintained by the Town
Assessor's office.
§115-4. Short-Term Rental Limitations
A. A Short-Term Rental shall not be rented for rental periods of less than five consecutive days.
This limitation shall not apply where the short-term rental property or an immediately adjacent
property is the principal residence of the short-term rental owner.
B. A short-term rental property shall not be rented for short-term rental purposes for more than
120 days in total per calendar year. This limitation shall not apply where the short-term rental
property or an immediately adjacent property is the principal residence of the short-term rental
owner.
C. The Limitations set forth in this Section 115-4 shall be effective beginning on January 1,
2023.
§ 115-5. Contact person.
The short-term rental owner must provide all owners of property within 100 feet of property
lines of the short-term rental with the name, address and telephone number of a contact person
or entity. Such contact person or entity must be able to address any complaint received
regarding the short-term rental site within one hour of receiving the complaint. The contact
person or entity must document all complaints and responses and submit them to the Town
within 24 hours. A copy of the contact person or entity name, address and phone number shall
be maintained on the property and made immediately available upon request from law
enforcement officers or Town Buildings and Codes personnel.
§ 115-6. Enforcement and penalties.
Any individual, partnership, corporation or other firm owning, operating, occupying or
maintaining short-term rental property or a short-term rental shall comply with all the
provisions of this Chapter and all orders, notices, rules, regulations or determinations issued in
connection therewith.
A. The Director of Building and Codes Enforcement or designee shall be granted access
upon reasonable request to the short-term rental property for the purpose of inspection
and/or enforcement of compliance with short-term rental regulations and/or Town and
State building codes.
B. Whenever it is found that there has been a violation of this Chapter or any rule or
regulation adopted pursuant to this Chapter, a violation notice and/or appearance ticket or
summons and complaint may be issued to the person, individual, partnership or
corporation owning, operating, occupying or maintaining the short-term rental or short-
term rental property in which such violation has been noted.
C. The Director of Building and Codes Enforcement or designee shall have the authority,
pursuant to the Criminal Procedure Law, to issue an appearance ticket or summons and
complaint, subscribed by him or her, directing a designated person to appear in court at a
designated time in connection with the commission of a violation of this Chapter.
D. Penalties. Any person who shall violate any provision of this Chapter, any order made
hereunder, or any rules or regulations adopted pursuant to this Chapter in addition to other
penalties provided for in this Chapter and/or the owner of any property at which a such
violation occurs shall be guilty of an offense punishable in the following manner: a fine of
not more than $950 for each offense. Any person who shall violate any provision of this
Chapter, any order made hereunder, or any rules or regulations adopted pursuant to this
Chapter in addition to other penalties provided for in this Chapter and/or the owner of any
property at which a such violation occurs shall be liable for civil penalties of not more
than $950 for each violation.
E. A civil action or proceeding in the name of the Town of Queensbury, New York, may be
commenced in any court of competent jurisdiction to compel compliance with or restrain
by injunction the violation of any provision of this Chapter or any rule or regulation
adopted pursuant hereto and to seek monetary penalties. Such remedy shall be in addition
to penalties otherwise prescribed by law and may be commenced with the consent of a
majority of the Town Board.
F. No remedy or penalty specified in this section shall be the exclusive remedy or penalty
available to address any violation described in this section, and each remedy or penalty
specified in this Chapter shall be in addition to, and not in substitution for or limitation of,
the other remedies or penalties specified in this Chapter, or in any other applicable law.
Any remedy or penalty specified in this Chapter may be pursued at any time, whether
prior to, simultaneously with, or after the pursuit of any other remedy or penalty specified
in this Chapter. The Town may initiate enforcement proceedings under this Chapter at any
time following receipt of a complaint or if the Director of Building and Codes determines
that a violation has occurred.
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§ 115-7. Severability.
The invalidity of any clause, sentence, paragraph or provision of this Chapter shall not
invalidate any other clause, sentence, paragraph or part thereof.
Section 4. Repealer — All Local Laws or Ordinances or parts of Local Laws or
Ordinances in conflict with any part of this Local Law are hereby repealed.
Section 5. Effective Date — This Local Law shall take effect upon filing in the
office of the New York State Secretary of State or as otherwise provided by law.