Short-Term Residential Rentals Ordinance

The following is a summary of Article VI Sections 10-115 through 10-132 of Chapter 10 of the East Haven Code of Ordinances entitled “Short-Term Residential Rentals” passed by the Legislative Town Council at its April 1, 2025 Regular Meeting and approved by the Mayor on April 4, 2025. The full text of the Ordinance can be found at Ordinance No. 1206 at

https://library.municode.com/ct/east_haven/codes/code_of_ordinances or Ordinance (STRR)

ARTICLE VI. – SHORT-TERM RESIDENTIAL RENTALS

            The Ordinance regulates the operation and use of dwellings for short-term rentals for periods of one (1) to thirty (30) consecutive days. A brief description of the various sections is below.

Sec. 10-115. Declaration of purpose. Contains purpose and statutory authority for passage.

Sec. 10-116. Definitions. Contains definitions of and requirements for certain terms used in the Ordinance, including authorized enforcement agent(s); event(s); gathering(s); local; owner; owner’s(s’) agent; primary residence; renter(s) or occupant(s); short-term residential rental or rental unit; and sleeping room.

Sec. 10-117. Prohibitions on short-term residential use. Contains use restrictions related to certain entities, affordable or income restricted dwelling units, units subject to housing or rental assistance, accessory dwelling units, and long-term rentals.

Sec. 10-118. Permit required. Contains permit requirement for short-term residential use with an exemption for letting of one (1) sleeping room (as defined in the Ordinance) within a single-family residential dwelling subject to compliance with all applicable laws, including requirements contained in the Code of Ordinances, Zoning Regulations, and any other codes and regulations governing said use.

Sec. 10-119. Permit application requirements and process. Contains short-term residential rental permit application requirements, including but not limited to who may apply, minimum application form and affidavit requirements, initial application fee, etc. and application process details, including but not limited to authority to reject incomplete applications, inspect subject property, one (1) permit period, etc.

Sec. 10-120. Notification to neighbors required. Sets forth requirements for notification of short-term residential rental permit application submission to abutting property owners within 100 feet.

Sec. 10-121. Permit suspension or revocation; expiration and renewal; non-transferability. Contains authority to suspend or revoke a short-term residential rental permit for violations of any provisions of the Ordinance, or any federal, state, or local laws, to revoke a permit for tax delinquency, and to approve or reject a permit renewal application and to conduct an inspection on such an application; identifies the initial permit period and the application requirements for renewal of the permit; and provides that  short-term residential rental permits issued pursuant to the Ordinance do not run with the land and are not transferable or otherwise assignable.

Sec. 10-122. Limitation on number of permits; weekly and annual caps on short-term residential rentals. Limits rentals to one (1) rental unit per property; to one (1) short-term residential rental per seven (7) day period unless owner(s) is/are residing at property; and to no more than one hundred fifty (150) days during a one (1) calendar year period.

Sec. 10-123. Presence of owner during rental period. Allows owner to be off-site during rental period if desired, but provides that certain requirements be met and warns that revocation may result from failure to comply.

Sec. 10-124. Parking requirements. Contains parking requirements and procedure for determination of compliance.

Sec. 10-125. General standards for short-term residential rentals – maximum occupancy; record of rentals; prohibition on signage; limitations on non-lodging uses; safety; conduct and information provided to renters or occupants; maintenance of property. Sets maximum occupancy at not to exceed two (2) persons per each sleeping room; requires owners to maintain a log of renters and occupants, and guests; prohibits signage for rental; requires primary use to be for lodging-type purposes; limits events and contains provisions related to conduct of gatherings, events, and use of rental unit generally; sets forth certain safety and legal requirements, etc.

Sec. 10-126. Violations. Identifies what constitutes a violation of the Ordinance.

Sec. 10-127. Enforcement; penalties for violations. Contains authority for appointment of and procedure to be followed by authorized enforcement agent; said agent’s authority to take action on a short-term residential rental permit in the event of a violation; limitation on issuance of new permit following revocation; and daily fine penalty.

Sec. 10-128. Right to appeal suspension or revocation; imposition and assessment of fines. Sets forth form, timeframe, and hearing procedure for an appeal of a permit suspension or revocation or imposition of a fine(s).

Sec. 10-129. Coordination with other laws. Provides for coordination with other laws should there be a conflict with or violation of same.

Sec. 10-130. Nuisance claims. Provides in part that Ordinance shall not be construed as legalizing a nuisance, barring a nuisance claim, etc.

Sec. 10-131. Severability. Provides for severability should a provision be determined to be invalid.

Sec. 10-132. Effective date. Contains effective date of Ordinance of January 1, 2026.