Morristown greenlights short-term rental guidelines - Daily Record

Jessie Gomez Morristown Daily Record

Published 5:23 PM EDT Mar 11, 2020

MORRISTOWN — After months of discussion and several changes later, town officials unanimously approved a new set of guidelines Tuesday night that regulate short-term rentals, such as Airbnb rentals. 

The new short-term rentals ordinance enacts a long-list of requirements rental hosts must complete prior to making their listings public. The new guidelines limit rental days and restrict rental operations to the town's zoning core, or central business district near Spring and South streets and areas surrounding Speedwell Avenue. 

"The underlying determination is that short term rentals do not in any way benefit residential districts. But they may benefit mixed-use districts if properly managed," wrote Councilmember Stefan Armington via email. 

Several iterations of the ordinance were heard since last November before its final version at the planning board meeting last month. Officials approved its zoning compliance and submitted its recommendations to the council.

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Now with its adoption, rental hosts must register for a short-term-rental license with the town's Division of Property Maintenance for a $200 registration fee. Additionally, hosts must obtain a Certificate of Habitability from the Housing and Property Maintenance Department valid for six months at a fee of $60. As part of the registration process, hosts would need to indicate whether there is sufficient off-street parking available for guests.

Restrictions listed in the ordinance also include:

• One unit within a two, three or four-family property can be rented as long as the owner occupies the home at the time of rental. 
• Owner-occupied short-term rentals will be limited to a maximum of 28 consecutive days. 
• Short-term rentals will be limited to a maximum of 60 days per year. 
• No signs indicating short-term rentals will be allowed.
• Short-term rentals can't "disrupt or adversely affect the residential character of the neighborhood."
• No equipment or process that creates glare, fumes, odors or other nuisance can be used.
• Short-term rentals can't be used for social events or for commercial reasons.
• No short-term rentals to anyone under age 21.

Morristown resident and Airbnb "super host" Nicolas Zavaleta will have to make some changes to his current rental operations. He purchased his home right after college and said hosting guests is his part-time hobby. For him, Airbnb allows visitors to explore Morristown freely and provide affordable accommodations for shorter stays.

“I’ve had interns stay with me for a whole summer to work at firms in Morristown. I’ve hosted nursing students who needed temporary housing while working at Morristown Medical and even same-sex couples seeking in vitro fertilization treatment in Morristown because of stigmas in China,” Zavaleta said. 

Although a hobby he enjoys, Zavaleta said he is taking a break due to the recent Coronavirus outbreak. 

"Now with the virus, I'm done doing Airbnb for months," Zavaleta added. 

The new ordinance joins the town's recently adopted bed and breakfast ordinance, which regulates rentals on lodging establishments renting out three to eight rooms that provide breakfast. It allows follows in the heels of a new hotel approved for the downtown area, The Cambria Hotel. 

Jessie Gomez is a local reporter for DailyRecord.com and NorthJersey.com. For unlimited access to the most important news from your local community, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

Email: jgomez@gannettnj.com Twitter: @jessiereport 

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