Around Town

Planning Board Supports Having Limited Short Term Rentals in Watertown

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The question of whether to allow homes in Watertown to be used as short term rentals, such as Airbnb and VRBO, has been discussed for several years. It took a step toward being a reality when the Planning Board recommended that the City Council adopt a Zoning ordinance that adds short term rentals as an allowed use. The amendment, however, would limit who could offer short term rentals and for how long. The amendment sent to the Planning Board on March 13 changed significantly from the one that it saw in 2021, said Larry Field, a Senior Planner in the Department of Community Development and Planning. Two types of short term rentals would be allowed, a home share (when one, or more, bedroom is rented out while the owner is present) and a whole home rental (when the owner is not present).

Around Town

Discussion of Short Term Rentals Continues This Week

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Rules for short-term rentals — such as Airbnbs — in Watertown have been discussed at multiple meetings of the City Council’s Committee on Rules & Ordinances. The Committee will meet again on April 20 to continue the discussion. The meeting will be held on Thursday, April 20, at 5:30 p.m. in the Council Chamber in City Hall. The public can also participate remotely. The Zoom link is: https://watertown-ma.zoom.us/j/89707047441 The public can also join by phone: (877) 853-5257 or (888) 475-4499 and enter Webinar ID: 897 0704 7441

Comment can be sent by email to: lfeltner@watertown-ma.gov

Government

Council Delays Vote on Airbnbs to Discuss Short Term Rental Regulations Further

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Charlie BreitroseWatertown’s City Hall. After hearing from concerned residents during Tuesday’s meeting, and in letters and emails, the City Council decided that Watertown’s regulations on short-term rentals (i.e. Airbnb) need more refinement. The issue has been discussed for a number of years and a set of draft regulations came before the Council Tuesday night. Currently, short-term rentals are not allowed in the Watertown Zoning Ordinance, however dozens of homes and rooms — if not more than 100 — can be found on websites such as Airbnb and Vrbo. Draft Ordinance

The proposal would allow three types of short term rentals: entire homes, a unit in a multi-family home, or a bedroom in a residence (up to three bedrooms in a home can be rented but the owner must be in one of the other bedrooms), said Acting Deputy City Manager Steve Magoon.

Around Town

Council to Consider Rules for Airbnb & Other Short Term Rentals at Upcoming Meeting

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Watertown City Hall

The Watertown City Council will hold a public hearing on Jan. 25 to discuss regulations for short-term home rentals, such as Airbnb and Vrbo. Currently, such rentals are not allowed in Watertown, but dozens are listed on the Airbnb site. The Council has held multiple meetings over the past few years about short-term rentals, and in June 2021 they recommended that the Planning Board support a set of rules for short-term rentals. The Planning Board considered the rules and sent them back to the Council for final approval.

Government

Council Backs Rules for Short-Term Rentals (Like Airbnb), No Decision on Max Number of Renters

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The Town Council moved forward proposed rules that would apply to short-term rentals — such as those booked through Airbnb or Vrbo — in Watertown, but could not come to an agreement on what the maximum number of guests at a rental would be. On June 22, the Town Council approved proposed changes to the Town’s Zoning Ordinance to allow short-term rentals as an accessory use. The short-term rentals rule will now go to the Planning Board, which will review them and give their recommendation, and then they will come back to the Council for final approval. Under the rules, short-term rentals will be allowed in Watertown, but operators will have to register with the Town and have the units inspected. There will also be community impact fees charged each time a unit is rented, with the funds coming back to the Town.

Government

Town Council Weighing How to Handle Airbnb & Other Short-Term Rentals

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Watertown appears to be headed toward allowing short-term rentals in town, such as Airbnb and Vrbo, but will create a set of regulations to require them to be registered with the Town and limit the occupants. The Town Council’s Rules & Ordinances Committee voted on March 29 to move a proposed change to the Zoning Ordinance to the Town Council. The amendment would have to be reviewed by the Planning Board which would make a recommendation to the Town Council, which has the final decision. The Committee also discussed regulations for short-term rentals, which are defined as a rental for fewer than 31 days. Currently, short-term rentals are not allowed as part of Watertown’s Zoning Board’s list of uses, but Councilor Anthony Donato said that hasn’t stopped people from operating them.

Government

Watertown Wants Residents’ Opinions on AirBNB and Other Short-Term Rentals

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Town officials have started to discuss creating rules about short-term rentals in Watertown, such as AirBNB, and have put up an online survey to get people’s opinions on the issue. 

At a meeting in February, the staff of the Community Development & Planning Department held a meeting about short-term rentals to discuss whether they should be allowed in Watertown and, if so, under what circumstances. Technically short-term rentals are not allowed under the current Watertown Zoning Ordinance, but it has been going on. By some estimates there are dozens or even hundreds of places available in Watertown on sites like AirBNB, HomeAway or VRBO. The town has rules for hotels and for renting out rooms in an owner-occupied home, but those do not fit all the types of short-term rentals. Some people rent whole condos or homes, others just a room.  The Planning Board asked the Department Community Development and Planning to come up with an amendment to the Zoning Ordinance covering short-term rentals.

AirBnB

Town Mulling Over How to Handle Airbnb, Other Short-Term Rentals in Watertown

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The Town of Watertown does not allow short-term rentals, such as can be found on Airbnb or one of several other similar websites, but when you look up Watertown those websites dozens or even hundreds of potential rentals pop up on the map. 

Watertown officials are trying to figure out how to handle such rentals and, whether they are banned or allowed with certain conditions, the policy will need to be enforced. Wednesday night, the Department of Community Development and Planning held the first community forum to start diving into the complex issue. Town Council President Mark Sideris said that he believes the status quo is not working. “We have an issue we need to address and we can’t say we don’t want to do anything. It is going on now,” Sideris said.