As used in this article, unless the context requires a different meaning:

Booking transaction means any transaction in which there is a charge to a transient by a host for the occupancy of any dwelling, sleeping, or lodging accommodations.

Guest or transient means a person who occupies a homestay unit.

Homestay means the use of a residential dwelling unit as defined in section 70-24, or a portion of a residential dwelling unit, by a host to provide room or space that is intended for short-term (14 days or less) transient rental purposes in exchange for a charge for the occupancy. The primary use of the homestay unit shall remain residential. For each booking transaction, all applicable taxes must be collected and remitted to the town as required by either the host or the associated hosting platform. Such use shall not create a landlord/tenant relationship.

Host means the person who is the owner and primary resident of a homestay unit offered for homestay lodging.

Hosting platform means any person or entity that is not a host but facilitates reservations or collects payments for any booking transaction on behalf of a host through an online digital platform.

Primary resident means the owner of the homestay unit who also occupies the property as his or her principal place of residence or domicile.

(Ord. No. 03-2019, 2-25-20; Ord. No. 02-2021, 7-25-22)

(a)

No host shall operate a homestay unit or advertise a residential property for homestay use without the host first having registered with the West Point Town Treasurer. The registration shall be valid January 1st (or from whatever date the registration first occurs) through December 31st of the calendar year and shall be renewed annually.

(b)

The host shall also collect and remit the town's transient lodging tax.

(Ord. No. 03-2019, 2-25-20; Ord. No. 02-2021, 7-25-22)

The unit shall have smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors installed as follows:

(1)

In all sleeping areas.

(2)

In every room in the path of the means of egress from the sleeping area to the exterior door of the sleeping unit.

(Ord. No. 03-2019, 2-25-20; Ord. No. 02-2021, 7-25-22)

The host shall not permit occupancy of the homestay unit for a period of less than 24 hours, nor greater than 14 consecutive days.

(Ord. No. 03-2019, 2-25-20; Ord. No. 02-2021, 7-25-22)

It shall be unlawful to operate a homestay without registering; the penalty shall be a fine of $1,000.00 per occurrence.

(Ord. No. 03-2019, 2-25-20; Ord. No. 02-2021, 7-25-22)

Any person who lawfully conducted a use that would meet the definition of homestay as defined in section 70-551, shall be exempt from the requirements of sections 70-551 through 70-555. Homestay uses in existence do not run with the land and are not transferrable.

(Ord. No. 02-2021, 7-25-22)