Bill > H0242

This bill proposes comprehensive regulations for short-term rentals in Vermont, introducing several key provisions. The bill defines a "short-term rental" as a furnished dwelling rented to travelers for fewer than 30 consecutive days and more than 14 days per calendar year, and introduces two primary operational restrictions: a host-occupancy requirement mandating that a long-term resident must reside on the same premises as the short-term rental, and a numerical restriction limiting property owners to renting only one short-term rental per parcel. The legislation also creates a statewide registration system requiring short-term rental owners to annually provide detailed information to the Department of Housing and Community Development, including owner contact details, property specifics, and rental unit characteristics. Municipalities are granted the ability to exempt themselves from these restrictions through a majority vote by Australian ballot, with provisions for voter petitions to trigger such exemption votes. The bill allows existing municipalities with short-term rental regulations as of July 1, 2025, to be automatically considered as having opted out of the state-level restrictions, and sets the overall effective date as July 1, 2026. This comprehensive approach aims to provide consistent statewide guidelines while maintaining local flexibility in regulating short-term rentals.

Housing and Urban Affairs

https://legislature.vermont.gov/bill/status/2026/H.242