Bulletin - Saranac Lake, NY News Today
The village board voted 3-1 to freeze new STR applications while it reviews rules adopted in 2023 and amended in 2025 with pre-existing rentals exempt
Saranac Lake Adopts Moratorium on New Short-Term Rental Permits for Up to 12 Months
The village board voted 3-1 to freeze new STR applications while it reviews rules adopted in 2023 and amended in 2025 with pre-existing rentals exempt
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The Village of Saranac Lake Board of Trustees voted 3-1 on October 13 to adopt a temporary moratorium on new short-term rental approvals which halts new STR permit applications for up to 12 months while officials review whether the village’s current rules are working. The pause applies only to new applications and it begins once Local Law No. 2 of 2026 is filed with the New York Secretary of State.
What the moratorium covers
Local Law No. 2 of 2026 suspends review of all new, initial applications to operate an STR covering both the Special Use Permit granted by the Development Board and the STR permit that follows it under Section 106-104.3 of the village Development Code.
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Pending applications are included unless the Development Board was already reviewing them when the law takes effect and no village board or official may accept, hear or decide a new application while the moratorium stands. Pre-existing STRs as defined in the Development Code are exempt.
Why the village is pausing
The law says the moratorium gives the village time to collect data, evaluate its STR rules and adopt any further amendments needed to meet the goals of Local Law No. 3 of 2023 which first brought permits and a cap on new rentals to the village.
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WPTZ - Burlington/Plattsburgh
Amendments passed in 2025 replaced district-by-district caps with separate villagewide caps for hosted and unhosted rentals, required hosts of hosted units to live on site and added a 200-foot buffer between STR properties in most districts. Trustees said during the October 13 discussion that the pause is meant to fix loopholes in those rules.
How the vote unfolded
The printed law set a flat 12-month term but trustees amended it at the meeting to run for up to 12 months because they did not expect the review to need a full year, and that change passed unanimously. Trustees Evans and Trudeau and Deputy Mayor White then voted for the law while Trustee Ryan voted against it, and Mayor Kelly Brunette did not vote.
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At the September 28 public hearing which Ryan had voted to schedule, one owner-occupied host opposed the moratorium on the grounds that rental income helps residents cover their taxes while other speakers asked how it would treat pre-existing and unpermitted rentals.
When it takes effect
The state Municipal Home Rule Law requires the village to file the law with the Department of State within 20 days of adoption and the village clerk told the board the filing form was ready. Because the law takes effect on filing, the moratorium period starts on that date rather than on October 13 and the village has not yet announced when it will file.
Town Web | SK
⦾ Status: Adopted October 13, 2026 by a 3-1 vote
⦾ Effective date: On filing with the New York Secretary of State, due within 20 days of adoption; filing date not yet announced
⦾ Duration: Up to 12 months from the effective date
⦾ Applies to: New, initial Special Use Permit and STR permit applications including pending applications not yet under Development Board review
⦾ Exempt: Pre-existing STRs as defined in the Development Code and applications already before the Development Board
⦾ Permit required: Yes, a Special Use Permit and STR permit under existing village law
⦾ Night cap: Not addressed in the moratorium law
⦾ Penalty for non-compliance: Not specified in the moratorium law
⦾ Platform responsibility: None in the moratorium law
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