WEST WINDSOR SHORT-TERM RENTAL ORDINANCE
The West Windsor Selectboard adopted a Short-Term Rental Ordinance on September 23, 2024. It will take effect on May 1, 2025, unless a petition, signed by at least five percent of the voters of West Windsor, is filed with the municipal clerk by November 6, 2024 asking for a vote to disapprove the ordinance. If a petition is received, the Selectboard will warn a special meeting and the voters may vote on that question. The full text of the ordinance may be viewed at Story Memorial Hall in West Windsor, on the Town of West Windsor municipal website, or at one of the following locations: Albert Bridge School, Mary L. Blood Memorial Library, Brownsville Butcher and Pantry, and the Brownsville Post Office. For more information, contact Town Administrator Matt Frederick via telephone at (802) 484-3520, via email at townadmin@westwindsorvt.org, or via mail at Town of West Windsor; P.O. Box 6; Brownsville, VT 05037.
A summary of the ordinance follows:
§ 1. Authority. Under authority granted in 24 V.S.A. § 2291(29) and 24 V.S.A. § 1971 et seq., the Selectboard of the Town of West Windsor hereby adopts the following civil ordinance requiring the annual registration and regulation of all short-term rentals operating within the town.
§ 2. Purpose. The purpose of this Ordinance is to promote and protect the public health, safety, welfare, and convenience of the town, to preserve residents’ rights to quiet enjoyment of homes and properties, and to ensure the safety of occupants of short-term rentals.
§ 3. Definitions. Please see the full text of the ordinance for the definition of words and phrases.
§ 4. Short-Term Rental Registration. The short-term rental of a dwelling unit requires the annual issuance of a Short-Term Rental Registration from the STR Administrator. A person shall not commence the use of a dwelling unit as a short-term rental unless and until the STR Administrator issues the requisite Short-Term Rental Registration. Please see the full text of the ordinance for the full registration process and occupancy requirements.
§ 5. Fees. A fee shall be paid to the Town of West Windsor with the submission of any Short Term Rental Registration application or annual renewal. The fee shall be in the amount of $150 per year (April 1 to March 31) for Hosted short-term rentals and $300 per year per bedroom advertised (April 1 to March 31) for Unhosted short-term rentals regardless of date of registration.
§ 6. Enforcement. Any person who violates a provision of this Ordinance shall be subject to a civil penalty of up to $800 per day for each day that a violation continues. Each day the violation continues shall constitute a separate offense.
§ 7. Waiver Fees. An Issuing Municipal Official is authorized to recover waiver fees, in lieu of a civil penalty, for any person who declines to contest a municipal complaint and pays the waiver fee. See the full text of the ordinance for waiver fee tables.
§ 8. Penalties. An Issuing Municipal Official is authorized to recover civil penalties. Please see the full text of the ordinance for the table of civil penalties.
§ 9. Other Relief. In addition to the enforcement procedures available under Chapter 59 of Title 24, the Town Administrator, in addition to any other individual authorized by a vote of the Selectboard, is authorized to commence civil action in the Criminal Division of the Vermont Superior Court to obtain injunctive and other appropriate relief, to request revocation or suspension of any Short-Term Rental Registration on behalf of the West Windsor Selectboard, or to pursue any other remedy authorized by law.
§10 Other Authorities Not Preempted. This Ordinance is not intended to preempt or be exclusive with regard to any other permitting or regulatory law or authorities that pertain to the ownership, operation, management or use of property or dwelling units engaged in Short-term rentals.
§ 11. Severability. If any section of this Ordinance is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, such finding shall not invalidate any other part of this Ordinance.
§ 12. Effective Date. This Ordinance shall become effective May 1, 2025. If a petition is filed under 24 V.S.A. § 1973, that statute shall govern the taking effect of this Ordinance.
For the full text of the Short-Term Rental Ordinance, please click here.
