Founder-led stewardship for Chester rental owners

Go, with conditions. The rule that decides it: Only single-family dwellings, legal owner-occupied two-family dwellings, or mixed-use structures with a valid certificate of occupancy may be used as short-term rentals (§ 98-29.1-5(C)).

The property must be registered with the Town Building Department and pass a Building Inspector inspection before a permit is issued; permits and inspections must be renewed every year (§ 98-29.1-6, § 98-29.1-7(C)). The permit application requires proof of liability insurance of at least $1,000,000 per occurrence, and proof of properly maintained onsite water/septic where not on municipal utilities (§ 98-29.1-6(B)). Gatherings of 20 or more people require a Special Use Permit from the Building Department (§ 98-29.1-5(K)). Violations are punishable by fines up to $500 per violation and $750 per day for subsequent offenses; more than 2 violation notices in any 12-month period triggers a 6-month suspension from holding an STR permit (§ 98-29.1-10(B), § 98-29.1-8(F)). The governing text is Town of Chester Town Code § 98-29.1, Short-Term Rentals (Local Law No. 1 of 2022).

No cap, night ceiling or owner-occupancy requirement is recorded for Chester (Town). Among towns that permit short-term rentals at all, that is the easier end.

Short-term rental is defined as offering any residential dwelling, or space therein, for a fee for a period of less than 30 days, including Airbnb and VRBO listings (§ 98-29.1-4).

STRs are permitted only in the SR-1, SR-2, LB-SL, and AR-3 residential zones; STRs already operating in other zones at adoption could continue only if they registered with the Building Department within 30 days (§ 98-29.1-5(A), (B)).

Workable. Confirm the current permit position with the municipality before you commit, then treat compliance as the first operating task rather than an afterthought. Most of the risk in Chester (Town) is administrative, not structural.