Town officials are exploring ways to encourage compliance

Town officials are exploring ways to encourage compliance with new short-term rental or STR requirements. Town Administrator Jim Sullivan told the Planning Commission on Monday that participation in the STR registration program has been low. The program, which began on July 1, 2024, requires current owners to register their STRs with the town by June 30, 2025. Failure to register will result in a fine of $100 per day. “It’s probably a good time now to put out a reminder,” Sullivan said. Zoning Administrator Mike Harris agreed, emphasizing the need to ramp up efforts as the deadline nears. The new regulations also require STR owners to obtain a condition-use permit from the Development Review Board (DRB). Harris said there has been a steady increase in permit applications to the DRB. Burke adopted its short-term rental ordinance and registration process on Feb 5. It is one of roughly a dozen local communities that regulate short-term rentals, typically defined as rentals available for 30 days or less.