The Rockland City Council is expected to take a preliminary vote on Sept. 12 on prohibiting non-owner occupied short-term rentals in most residential zones. Stephen Betts/The Courier-Gazette
ROCKLAND — Mayor Ed Glaser has proposed prohibiting non-owner occupied short-term rentals in most residential zones.
The item will be considered for preliminary approval at the City Council’s meeting for Monday, Sept. 12.
If approved, the prohibition would take effect Jan. 1, 2025.
Owner-occupied short-term rentals would continue to be allowed in all zones, and non-owner occupied ones will still be allowed in transitional business and commercial zones, including downtown. The rentals will also be allowed in rural residential zones.
Glaser said people who operate a short-term rental but do not live there are running a business and businesses should not be allowed in residential zones.
“Add to that it takes away some of our housing stock,” Glaser said.
The ordinance change also would eliminate the requirement that non-owner occupied short-term rental applications go before the Planning Board. Instead, the code enforcement officer can issue the permits.
There are 41 non-owner occupied homes approved for short-term rentals in Rockland. There are about 20 people on a waiting list for one of the remaining four slots. There is no cap on owner-occupied short-term rentals.
Glaser said his ordinance would lift the cap on non-owner occupied rentals but they would be limited to the business and commercial zones.
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