New Canaan considers oversight of local Airbnb activity

New Canaan”™s Town Council is taking aim at the local proliferation of Airbnb rentals and its impact on the quality of life.

According to a report in NewCanaanite.com, Steve Karl, the co-chairman of the council”™s Bylaws and Ordinances Subcommittee, argued that the town needs to “get ahead of abuse of that app” in regard to problems arising from short-term rentals of New Canaan properties.

“We have had issues,” Karl said. “Folks that are using it on more frequent basis, neighbors that are complaining about some transient activity at homes.”

Karl noted that the town is looking into imposing a commercial use tax for homeowners that lease out their residences via Airbnb. He added that New Canaan zoning regulations allow a “rooming house” use by special permit within New Canaan”™s B Residential Zone, while special permits are required for turning a private home into a bed-and-breakfast.

Councilwoman Penny Young also raised concerns about the lack of regulatory oversight on Airbnb rentals. “You have the potential for some serious things happening in people”™s homes that we are not monitoring what is going on,” she said. “Are there fire codes? Are there health codes? There are all kinds of things that would have greater consideration.”

There are currently more than one dozen New Canaan properties available for nightly rentals on Airbnb, ranging in price from $86 to $450 per night.