SOUTH HADLEY — Residents will have a chance to weigh at a virtual public hearing Monday on two proposed bylaws that, if approved, would allow up to 25 short-term rental licenses in town.

Often referenced by online platforms like Airbnb or VRBO, short-term rentals in South Hadley are considered any rental of all or part of a dwelling unit for 28 consecutive days or less, including home sharing and vacation rentals.

Under the town’s current bylaws, any use not recognized is not allowed.

Last year, town officials learned there were several short-term rentals operating in South Hadley illegally until Building Commissioner David Gardner issued cease and desist orders in September 2022.

With the growing presence of short-term rentals in South Hadley and nationally, the Planning Department stated in a summary statement that “it is prudent to develop regulations to manage their existence within the community to protect and enhance the essential characteristics of and quality of life within existing residential neighborhoods for all residents.”

As of March 2022, Airbnb reported 6 million active listings worldwide and 4 million hosts on the platform.

The intention behind the proposed general bylaw for short-term rentals is to create a licensing and registration process for short-term rentals, and a process for inspections and complaints. It designates South Hadley’s building commissioner as both the licensing agent and enforcement officer, and limits the total number of short-term rental licenses to 25.

Of the total number of licenses, no more than five shall be non-owner occupied. Non-owner occupied short-term rentals are proposed to be allowed by special permit in the residential, agricultural, and business zoning districts, and banned from the industrial zoned districts.

The proposed zoning bylaw regulates the use of short-term rentals within each of the 12 zoning districts in town.

Copies of the draft bylaws are available online at https://southhadley.org/1318/ProposedDraft-Bylaws or in the Planning and Conservation Department at Town Hall, Room U6 at 116 Main St., South Hadley. The virtual hearing will be held on Monday, Feb. 6 at 7 p.m. via Zoom at https://bit.ly/3X2W1mM. To join by phone, call 646-558-8656, with the webinar ID: 818 5989 8540 Passcode: 751566.

Emily Thurlow can be reached at ethurlow@gazettenet.com.]]>