🎯 STRisker: Bulletin - Georgia, VT
Georgia Plots Its STR Comeback—with Rules This Time
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Georgia Plots Its STR Comeback—with Rules This Time
Short-term rentals might not be flooding Georgia, Vermont just yet, but town leaders say now’s the time to act before things get out of hand.
With a shiny new town plan guiding development, the Georgia Selectboard took its first steps on July 14 toward regulating the small but growing number of short-term rentals—those under-30-day stays popular on sites like Airbnb and VRBO. Zoning Administrator Doug Bergstrom told the board it’s about laying the groundwork early.
“We’ve had issues with them in the past,” he said, citing problems like overcapacity and disruptive guests. “It’s less than 20 right now, but that’s a growing number.”
State officials are encouraging towns like Georgia to create licensing frameworks, and Bergstrom delivered a draft ordinance modeled on Stowe’s approach. The plan? Build a town-wide STR registry, gather emergency contact info, and hold owners accountable to basics like accurate advertising.
“It’s pretty straightforward,” Bergstrom said. “We’re not trying to ban them—just make sure they’re operating responsibly.”
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STRs aren’t just a nuisance issue. They’re part of a bigger housing puzzle. The Vermont Housing Finance Agency reported Franklin County added 124 STR units in the past five years. Meanwhile, Georgia’s 2025 town plan identifies the STR boom as one reason it’s getting harder for locals to find long-term housing.
To meet state housing goals, the town needs to add between 287 and 570 new homes by 2050. If left unchecked, STRs could eat into that supply and officials don’t want to play catch-up later.
“We’ve had complaints,” Bergstrom noted. “But right now, we have no authority to enforce anything.”
That’s about to change. With the Selectboard giving the draft ordinance an initial thumbs-up, it’s now headed to the town attorney for review. A full vote could follow soon after.
Selectboard member Carl Rosenquist is on board:
“I’m glad we’re doing it,” he said. And with that, Georgia’s moving STR regulation from “someday” to “right now.”
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