This is a URGENT announcement that will impact all STR's.  Show your support for property owner rights by attending the PUBLIC HEARING tomorrow, December 3rd at 6pm at City Hall.  Please read how this will impact your STR and future property rights as an owner in Saratoga Springs.  If you cannot attend the meeting in person please submit comments ASAP to:

public.comment@saratoga-springs.org

We need all of the support we can gather.  Every voice, every person at the meeting, every email sent matters!

Good Evening,

We are writing to express our deep concern regarding the latest draft of the proposed short-term rental (STR) regulations, released over the Thanksgiving holiday. Unfortunately, this draft continues to include many of the same illegal, onerous, and costly provisions as earlier versions, first introduced by Accounts Commissioner Dillon Moran.

This 12-page proposal is packed with excessive rules, severe punishments—including criminal penalties—and unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles. Below are the most troubling provisions:

    1    Severe Penalties:

    ◦    Grants code enforcement the authority to issue criminal appearance tickets for violations.

    ◦    Establishes exorbitant fines: $2,500 for a first violation, $5,000 for a second, and $7,500 for a third.

    ◦    Authorizes the city to sue violators and recover attorney’s fees in addition to penalties.

    2    Fire Code Misapplication:

    ◦    Requires homeowners to comply with fire codes, which do not apply to single-family residential homes in New York State, even when rented.

    3    Restrictive Owner Presence Requirement:

    ◦    Mandates that the owner or a designated agent must remain within 50 miles of the rental during its use.

    4    Rental Duration Limit:

    ◦    Limits all rentals (as written, not just short-term) to 150 days per year, jeopardizing mixed-use rental practices that combine short- and long-term stays.

    5    Costly Retrofits:

    ◦    Requires older and historic homes to be retrofitted to meet modern building codes, potentially costing homeowners tens of thousands of dollars.

    6    Ambiguous Standards:

    ◦    Demands compliance with undefined standards for bedrooms and parking spaces, creating confusion and enforcement challenges.

    7    Mandatory Insurance Requirements:

    ◦    Requires homeowners to carry property insurance and an additional $1 million in liability coverage.

    8    Annual Inspections:

    ◦    Imposes yearly fire inspections at the homeowner’s expense.

    9    Unlawful Home Entry:

    ◦    Requires owners to grant Code Enforcement access to the property with 24 hours’ notice, disregarding tenant rights, as tenants legally control access when occupying a home.

    10    Broad Administrative Power:

    ◦    Grants the Accounts Department unilateral authority to grant, deny, or suspend permits without clear checks or balances.

    11    Wasteful Spending:

    ◦    Allocates tens of thousands of taxpayer dollars to create a local STR registry, even though the State of New York is poised to offer a free statewide registry.

    12    Flawed Due Process:

    ◦    Permits the immediate suspension of STR licenses for up to 30 days pending a violation hearing. However, hearings can take up to 45 days, effectively punishing owners without resolution.

We support reasonable regulation of short-term rentals to ensure safety and enhance the experience of our guests and visitors. However, this legislation is a regulatory mess. It creates confusion, imposes unnecessary costs, and could lead to significant burdens on taxpayers.

We urge you to review this proposal carefully and stand with us in opposing these extreme and misguided measures.

Sincerely,

Saratoga Springs Rental Rights Alliance