🎯 STRisker: Bulletin - Brewster, MA
Draft STR Regulations in Brewster Spark Questions on Fees, Inspections, and Housing Impacts
Brewster Residents Debate Draft STR Bylaw, Fees, and Inspections at Public Hearing
Photo by https://www.brewster-ma.gov/
Residents turned out for a public hearing on short-term rentals, offering feedback and concerns on the town’s proposed bylaw, regulations, and fee schedule.
Town Planner Jon Idman presented a draft bylaw authorizing Brewster to regulate STRs, followed by detailed regulations and a $300 annual registration fee. Around 45 residents attended via Zoom, with five in person.
Under the proposal, STR owners must apply for a certificate of registration, renewed each November. Certificates do not transfer upon sale; new owners must reapply. Applicants with unpaid taxes, code violations, or zoning issues would be denied. STRs cannot operate in affordable housing units or accessory dwelling units.
Brewster Short-Term Rental Task Force
Applications require property details, proof of state tax registration, a local contact available within two hours, $1 million liability insurance, and a signed compliance statement. Owners must maintain records of stays, guests, cars, and income for three years and submit annual reports.
Operational rules include occupancy limits based on septic capacity, off-street parking enforcement, weekly trash removal, and posting emergency contacts and safety information inside rentals. Inspections would be conducted annually for non-primary residences, with enforcement hearings possible within 48 hours of violations.
Residents voiced concerns. Doug Erickson requested supplemental information from Massachusetts law and said fees should be voted at town meeting. Kathleen Rosenbaum argued compliant owners were being penalized for “party houses” and questioned why STRs faced annual inspections while year-round rentals did not.
Former STR task force member Sarah Stanahan said she hoped registration would provide data on STRs’ impact on housing. “I am not opposed to discouraging STRs if they start taking over the housing market,” she said.
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Alan McKinnon cautioned against overgeneralizing corporate-run STRs, noting many family rentals operate under LLCs. John Kramer asked for comparative information from neighboring towns and revenue data. Town Manager Peter Lombardi said Brewster expects $1.2 million in STR revenues this year.
Select board members raised questions about inspection funding and reporting timelines. Idman said the $300 fee covers registration costs, while room tax revenues are used elsewhere. He noted Eastham and Nantucket require quarterly reports, while Brewster proposes annual.
Feedback will guide revisions before updates are presented at a select board meeting in coming weeks.
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