[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Village
of Montgomery 12-18-2018 by L.L.
No. 1-2018. Amendments noted where applicable.]
A.
The Board of Trustees of the Village of Montgomery has determined
that it is necessary, given the popularity of such online phenomena
as Airbnb, VRBO and other such sites whereby owners of residential
properties rent out all or parts of their properties on a short-term
basis, to enact reasonable regulations to ensure that the public health,
safety, well-being and quality of life of Village residents is preserved
while also ensuring that the health, safety and well-being of those
persons renting such properties are also protected.
B.
The Board of Trustees, therefore, establishes regulations for the
administration and enforcement of a residential rental permit requirement
for all short-term rental units within the corporate boundaries of
the Village of Montgomery. Additionally, this chapter provides for
the periodic registration of all landlords and short-term residential
rental property owners for the purpose of regulating the living and
safety conditions of such short-term residential rental properties
and for maintaining an inventory of available short-term rental housing.
For the purposes of this chapter, the following definitions
shall apply:
Any landlord who does not reside on the rental property and/or
who resides outside the designated boundaries of Orange County as
those boundaries may be defined at the time of regular, periodic property
registration.
Any single residential living space which is capable of housing
one separate household, whether a detached single-family structure
or building or part of a multi-household structure or building.
The "immediate family" of the owner of a housing unit consisting
of the owner's spouse, children, parents, grandparents or grandchildren.
Any property owner or designated agent who offers a housing
unit for occupancy to persons other than members of his immediate
family in exchange for a fee or compensation, whether monetary or
otherwise.
A representative of a property owner or landlord who resides
within the designated boundaries of Orange County as defined at the
time of periodic property registration. All resident agents must be
natural persons and not corporations, limited liability companies
or other similar entities.
A permit issued by the Village of Montgomery stating that the referenced structure or unit conforms to the standards of Chapter 42, Building Construction, and that occupancy of that structure or unit is permitted for residential use. Any special circumstances or conditions under which occupancy is permitted may be specified on that permit.
Any housing or dwelling unit(s) which are occupied by persons
other than the owner or his immediate family for which a fee or compensation,
monetary or otherwise, is received by the owner or landlord in exchange
for such occupancy for a period of less than 30 days, which shall
include but not be limited to rentals provided by such companies as
Airbnb and VRBO. Month-to-month tenancies are not considered short-term
rental properties.
Any deficiency in a structure or housing unit that does not meet the standards of Chapter 42, Building Construction, as amended.
A.
All landlord and resident agents must register and obtain a short-term
rental permit from the Village of Montgomery within 30 days of the
effective date of this chapter and/or before any housing or dwelling
unit is utilized as a short-term rental property. Initial registration
will begin within 30 days after this chapter becomes effective. It
is the responsibility of the landlord or resident agent to register
any short-term rental property as required in this chapter and failure
to do so shall constitute a violation of these regulations and is
subject to the penalties set forth herein. All absentee landlords
must have a resident agent for all short-term rental properties. Any
substandard condition identified during an annual inspection must
be corrected by the landlord before a short-term rental permit shall
be issued.
B.
The registration for a short-term rental permit shall be on a form
approved by the Building Inspector in accordance with the provisions
of this chapter and must contain a minimum of the following information:
(1)
Address of the rental unit;
(2)
The number of rental units in each building;
(3)
The number of conventional bedrooms in the dwelling;
(4)
The applicable overnight and daytime occupancy limit of the unit(s);
(5)
The number of off-street parking spaces available for guests;
(6)
The types and placement of any fire protection systems located in
each building;
(7)
The number and location of all exits;
(8)
A floor plan indicating the placement and sizes of each conventional
bedroom, exit and fire protection system;
(9)
A listing of each manner or mechanism through which the rental unit
is listed for rental;
(10)
A copy of a valid certificate of occupancy for the real property;
(11)
Written proof of liability insurance for the property with policy
limits in an amount of no less than $1 million;
(12)
Name, mailing address, physical address telephone number, e-mail
address, and social security number of the landlord or resident agent;
(13)
If the owner is an association, partnership, limited liability company,
corporation, joint tenancy, tenancy in common, tenancy by the entirety
or other entity, the name of each and every owner, officer, partner
or general interest partner and the share of their interest shall
be also disclosed;
(14)
If the owner is a business entity, the tax identification number
and the name, telephone number, e-mail address and physical address
of the owner's agent;
(15)
Acknowledgment of receipt of a copy of this chapter and inspection
report;
(16)
The fully completed form must be notarized.
C.
All resident agents shall accept service of process on behalf of
the landlord of all notices given pursuant to this chapter. If a resident
agent moves from Orange County, the landlord must immediately designate
a new resident agent in writing to the Village for the duration of
the period of any short-term rental permit and the failure to do so
shall render the permit null and void.
D.
Leaseholders and tenants may not engage in short-term rentals.
E.
All short-term rental permits shall expire one year after the date
of issuance unless sooner revoked.
A.
Inspections of all short-term rental properties shall be conducted on an annual basis to determine compliance with Chapter 42, Building Construction, as amended.
B.
All inspections finding substandard conditions will be subject to procedures set forth for violation of Chapter 44, Buildings, Unsafe, as amended.
C.
Inspections shall be conducted and work descriptions shall be compiled
and issued by the Building Inspector.
D.
The Building Inspector will be responsible for arranging for the
inspection of short-term rental units and for initiating any other
appropriate action under these regulations. The Building Inspector
will give special consideration to any request that inspections be
conducted during non-business hours for the convenience of the renter(s).
In the absence of such a request, the inspections will be conducted
during normal business hours as defined by the Village's business
hours in force at the time.
E.
The annual inspection fee is $50 for each short-term rental property.
If the short-term rental property fails inspection, there shall be
no fee for the first reinspection. Thereafter, each further reinspection
shall be subject to a fee of $25.
A.
An application fee for the short-term rental permit shall be in an
amount established, from time to time, by resolution of the Board
of Trustees and is payable by the property owner at the time of application.
B.
A fee for the renewal of a short-term rental permit shall be in an
amount established, from time to time, by resolution of the Board
of Trustees and is payable by the property owner at the time of application
for the renewal.
The Building Inspector may deny an application for a short-term
rental permit based upon, among others, any of the following grounds:
A.
The application does not fully comply with the provisions of this
chapter.
B.
The applicant has falsified or failed to provide information in the
application for a permit, registration of property or registration
of property owner.
C.
The applicant had been issued a short-term rental permit, which was
in effect in any part of the calendar year immediately preceding the
date of application and the applicant falsified or failed to provide
information in the application for a permit, registration of property
or registration of property owner, upon which such short-term rental
permit had been issued.
D.
The applicant violated any provision of this chapter during the calendar
year immediately preceding the date of application or during the calendar
year in which the application was made.
E.
The applicant has had a short-term rental permit revoked for cause
during the calendar year immediately preceding the date of application
or during the calendar year in which the application was made.
F.
The property for which a short-term rental permit is sought was used
or occupied in violation of this chapter during the calendar year
immediately preceding the date of application or during the calendar
year in which the application was made.
G.
The property for which a short-term rental permit is sought is not
equipped with an operational single-station smoke-detecting alarm
device and an operational carbon monoxide detector device, or devices,
in accordance with New York State standards.
H.
The property for which a short-term rental permit is sought does
not possess adequate exits in accordance with New York State standards.
The Building Inspector may revoke a short-term rental permit
based upon, among others, any of the following grounds:
A.
The owner applicant has falsified or failed to provide information
in the application for a permit, application for renewal of a permit,
registration of property or registration of property owner.
B.
The applicant violated any provisions of this chapter during the
term of the short-term rental permit.
C.
The applicant or any renter violated any provision of the Penal Code
of the State of New York, which violation occurred on, or pursuant
to the occupancy of, the short-term rental unit.
D.
The applicant or any renter violated any provision of the Village
of Montgomery.
E.
Any conduct on the premises which is unreasonable under the circumstances
and which disturbs the health, safety, peace or comfort of the neighborhood
or which otherwise creates a public nuisance.
F.
The property for which renewal of a short-term rental permit is sought
is not equipped with an operational single-station smoke-detecting
alarm device and an operational carbon monoxide detector device, or
devices, in accordance with New York State standards.
G.
The property for which renewal of a short-term rental permit is sought
does not possess adequate exits in accordance with New York State
standards.
A.
It is the responsibility of the property owner, landlord and/or resident
agent to ensure proper and legal occupation of the premises and compliance
with this chapter.
B.
The premises for which a short-term rental permit has been granted
can only be used for residential purposes.
C.
No more than three adult persons may occupy any one bedroom.
D.
A renter in possession pursuant to a short-term rental permit is
prohibited from subleasing or otherwise licensing the use or occupancy
of any portion of the rental unit.
E.
Advertising for the subleasing of or selling or assigning of shares
to the premises by a renter or occupant for the use or occupancy of
all or a portion of the premises is prohibited.
F.
All renters shall ensure that at no time shall ingress or egress
from any driveway be impeded.
G.
The renters of short-term rental premises and their guests shall
not park any motor vehicle in such a manner so as to block or prevent
access to driveways or easements or rights-of-way.
H.
Any conduct on the premises which is unreasonable under the circumstances
and which disturbs the health, safety, peace or comfort of the neighborhood
or which otherwise creates a public nuisance is prohibited.
I.
Trash, refuse and recycling materials shall not be left stored within the public view, except in proper containers for the purpose of collection by the Village, set out no earlier than 5:00 p.m. on the evening prior to scheduled trash and recycling collection days and shall otherwise comply with Chapter 65 of the Village Code.
The issuance of a short-term rental permit shall create no presumption
that the short-term rental unit complies with the provisions of this
chapter.
The parking of motor vehicles between the hours of 1:00 a.m.
and 6:00 a.m. on the premises for which a short-term rental permit
has been issued shall be prima facie evidence that the rental unit
was used and occupied during that time by at least one person for
each motor vehicle so parked.
A short-term rental permit shall not be transferred or assigned
to any person or used by any other person other than the permittee
to whom it was issued.
A.
The Building Inspector may deny an application for a short-term rental
permit, deny an application for renewal of a short-term rental permit
or may revoke a short-term rental permit, by delivering a written
copy of such denial or revocation to the applicant stating the grounds
for such denial or revocation.
B.
An applicant or permittee, as applicable, may appeal such denial
or revocation by filing a written request for a hearing before the
Board of Trustees. Such request shall be filed with the Village Clerk
within 10 days of the date of the denial or revocation.
C.
Upon receipt of such request, the Village Clerk shall schedule the
same for the next regularly scheduled Board of Trustees meeting, affording
the appellant at least five days' written notice of the date, time
and place of the hearing and publish notice of the same.
D.
At the hearing, the appellant shall be afforded reasonable opportunity
to be heard. The appellant shall bear the burden of proof by a preponderance
of the credible evidence to show that the determination of the Building
Inspector was arbitrary and capricious or in excess of his/her authority.
The decision of the Board of Trustees shall be final and conclusive.
A.
Any person who violates any term or provision of this chapter, upon conviction thereof, shall be guilty of an offense punishable by a fine as contained in Subsection B of this section, or by imprisonment for a term not exceeding 15 days, or by both such fine and imprisonment. The continuation of an offense shall constitute, for each day the offense is committed, a separate and distinct violation hereunder.
B.
Penalties for violations of these regulations shall be imposed as
follows:
