LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — Short-term rentals have been a hot topic in town recently following inconsistency surrounding whether they are permitted; the Planning Board is working to fix that. 

 

At the June 2024 town meeting, voters approved new taxes and fees on short-term rentals, which are stays of less than 30 days. These include:

 

• A local excise tax of up to 6 percent on total rent for each stay at bed and breakfasts, hotel lodging houses, short-term rentals, or motels

• A 3 percent impact fee on "professionally managed" short-term rentals

• A 3 percent impact fee on short-term rentals in two- or three-family dwellings

 

Although the need for regulations was mentioned during some meetings, none were promulgated, and voters were presented with options for taxing short-term rentals but not for regulating them.

 

Some residents have short-term rentals, flying under the radar, despite the town not having approved zoning regulations to ensure safety and preserve the character of the town, board members said at its meeting on Tuesday. 

 

"I don't want to see people not be able to do short-term rentals, but I don't think we can just open it up and let it be a free for all, because that's what it's been and in some areas of town, it's becoming a bit of a nightmare for the people that live there,” board member Leanne Yinger said.