Airbnb Plan Modified

Long Islander News photo/Jano Tantongco
Huntington Councilman Mark Cuthbertson

A proposal to oust home-sharing services from town has been amended with less-strict regulations, and the Huntington Town Board is seeking opinions on it.

Councilman Mark Cuthbertson, who penned the proposal, said that the changes are designed to regulate services like Airbnb instead of banning them outright. Cuthbertson’s original proposal drew criticism in January from homeowners who claimed to use Airbnb without issue.

“This new legislation strikes a balance between someone who plays ‘host’ to sharing their residence versus someone who operates as the equivalent of a hotelier. Public safety and quality of life issues also played an integral part of this legislation,” Cuthbertson stated.

The revised proposal calls homeowners to secure permits for “short-term rentals” before using such services. The permits, which would be available through the Department of Public Safety, would cost $50 and allow homeowners to rent their space for less than 30 days, and no more than 120 days total per year.

The 120-day limit was objected to by Councilwoman Susan Berland, who voted against the resolution scheduling a public hearing.

“The idea is that a homeowner would not able to convert what is essentially a residential use with an ancillary use for Airbnb,” Cuthbertson said. “The 120- day limit would be a reasonable cap on the number of days that such a commercial use could exist, in most cases, a residential area.”

Cuthbertson’s proposal also calls to prohibit cellars and attics from being used as rentals unless a certificate of occupancy has been issued.

A second proposal would allow property owners with valid accessory apartment permits to also use their property for short term rentals.

Public hearings on both the proposals have been set for June 13, 2 p.m. at Huntington Town Hall.

-TANTONGCO