This article sets forth comprehensive standards governing the short-term rental of a dwelling unit and establishes requirements and enforcement mechanisms intended to encompass and regulate all persons engaged in the business of short-term rentals, including without limitation, property owners, property managers, leasing agents, and platforms that facilitate short-term rentals.

This article is adopted to support the economic opportunity created by short-term rentals, create a level playing field for all parties engaged in the business of providing lodging, ensure the sufficient collection of tax revenue, mitigate the disruptive effects that unmonitored short-term rentals can have on neighborhoods, and protect the livability and quality of life in the Town of Barrington's residential neighborhoods.

Occupancy. The maximum occupancy for a dwelling unit subject to a short-term rental booking transaction shall be two persons per bedroom. The maximum occupancy may be further limited by the requirements of Subsection B below. For the purpose of establishing occupancy, a person is defined as an individual at least 12 years of age; provided however, that in no event shall exceed one occupant per 200 gross square feet.

Parking. One off-street parking space shall be provided on the same lot on which the short-term rental is located for every two short-term rental guests which the host advertises the dwelling may accommodate. Where the number of parking spaces required by this section cannot be provided on site, the permitted occupancy of the dwelling shall be reduced to conform to the available amount of off-street parking. All parking spaces required hereunder shall be paved or crushed stone.

Rental with owner occupancy. If the record owner occupies the dwelling during the short-term rental period, two additional spaces are required per unit.

The record owner of any property engaged in a short-term rental booking transaction shall register with the Barrington Police Department and provide the contact information of an individual who is able to respond within a reasonable period of time from being notified to any issues or emergencies that arise during the short-term rental. Contact information must include a mobile cell phone number that is active 24 hours per day and an email address.

The local contact must be authorized by the record owner to respond to tenant and neighborhood questions or complaints regarding the use of the dwelling for short-term rentals. The local contact shall respond to those complaints to ensure that the use of the dwelling complies with the requirements of this chapter, as well as other applicable Town ordinances pertaining to parking, noise, disturbances, or nuisances, as well as state law pertaining to the consumption of alcohol and/or the use of illegal drugs.

The record owner of any property engaged in a short-term rental booking transaction shall maintain a record of the number of days and dates of occupancy, in for the past three calendar years, which the dwelling was occupied by short-term renters, and the occupancy of each such booking. Record owners should provide these upon request to the Town Clerk.

The failure to comply with the above requirements, as well as the failure of the local contact to respond to Barrington Police Department inquiries, shall be considered a violation of this chapter.

All booking transactions entered into before the passing of this article shall be allowed as a preexisting nonconforming use pursuant to Article IX of the Zoning Ordinance. All booking transactions entered into after the passage of this article shall not be considered preexisting nonconforming uses and shall be subject to the provisions herein.