Short Term Rentals in Groton

Update: An application has been submitted to the Planning and Zoning Commission (REGA23-0001, Short Term Rental Zoning Text Amendments). A public hearing was held on January 9, 2024. The application was approved on the April 9, 2024 meeting and will be effective on May 15, 2024.

If you like to travel, you've probably heard of VRBO or Airbnb-style short-term rentals (STRs). You may also rent out a vacation home, a portion of your home, or the neighborhood that you live in may be impacted by a STR. Residential housing is being used in many different ways, one of which is to rent that home for short periods of time. STRs were once a niche way to travel, but are now available for rent all over the world.

The Town of Groton is considering ways to regulate STRs. What you might not know is that at this time, the State of Connecticut has no legislation in place regulating short term rentals statewide. Historically, Groton hasn’t regulated them either. So to keep up with the demand, regulation of these properties must be done through a change to our zoning regulations or development of a new town ordinance.

Zoning Regulations provide rules about how a piece of land or property can be used, how large a building can be, whether a business can be opened on a property, as well as establishing parking, landscaping and lighting requirements. Zoning laws govern issues like site construction, hours of operation, parking requirements, signs, garbage collection, and the like. Zoning could specify which districts allow STRs and can specify how STRs are approved. Zoning can require that a permit is issued to the property, not the operator, and zoning can dictate enforcement through the zoning enforcement officer. Zoning regulations are adopted by the Planning and Zoning Commission and the regulations will only apply to new uses.
A Town Ordinance, on the other hand, would apply to both new STRs and those already operating. It would eliminate the potential for existing properties to claim grandfathered rights to operate STRs and would issue a license to the operator and not the property. An ordinance would also put nuisance enforcement in the hands of the Police. An ordinance is adopted by the Town Council.

Whether we decide on new zoning or an ordinance, to develop these new regulations for STR's Groton is engaging the Horsley Witten Group to seek solutions that protect public interests and meet the needs of all residents. We strive to create regulations that generate inclusive opportunities for local wealth-creation, while still balancing the needs of all members of the community.

Please take a look around this page. You will find a project timeline, links to documents, staff contacts, and opportunities to leave feedback throughout the project.

Thank you for your interest and participation!

Zoning Regulations provide rules about how a piece of land or property can be used, how large a building can be, whether a business can be opened on a property, as well as establishing parking, landscaping and lighting requirements. Zoning laws govern issues like site construction, hours of operation, parking requirements, signs, garbage collection, and the like. Zoning could specify which districts allow STRs and can specify how STRs are approved. Zoning can require that a permit is issued to the property, not the operator, and zoning can dictate enforcement through the zoning enforcement officer. Zoning regulations are adopted by the Planning and Zoning Commission and the regulations will only apply to new uses.
A Town Ordinance, on the other hand, would apply to both new STRs and those already operating. It would eliminate the potential for existing properties to claim grandfathered rights to operate STRs and would issue a license to the operator and not the property. An ordinance would also put nuisance enforcement in the hands of the Police. An ordinance is adopted by the Town Council.

Please take a look around this page. You will find a project timeline, links to documents, staff contacts, and opportunities to leave feedback throughout the project.

Thank you for your interest and participation!

Do you have a story about short term rentals in Groton?

This is a place to provide open feedback on the topic of Short Term rentals that can be viewed by all.

Thank you for sharing your story with us.

Share STRs Will Say Anything for A Buck With No Consideration for the Neighborhoods they destroy on Facebook Share STRs Will Say Anything for A Buck With No Consideration for the Neighborhoods they destroy on Twitter Share STRs Will Say Anything for A Buck With No Consideration for the Neighborhoods they destroy on Linkedin Email STRs Will Say Anything for A Buck With No Consideration for the Neighborhoods they destroy link

STRs Will Say Anything for A Buck With No Consideration for the Neighborhoods they destroy

by Jeff year around resident Mystic Historic District, almost 4 years ago

Airbnbs Misleading Data
LIZ KRUEGER February 10, 2016 ISSUE: ILLEGAL HOTELS AFFORDABLE HOUSING
New York – State Senator Liz Krueger released the following statement today in reaction to two reports about Airbnb. The first report, written by independent watchdogs, reveals that the company created a misleading set of numbers, removing over 1,000 listings in a one-time purge before allowing reporters and officials limited access to their data in November.
The second report, paid for by Airbnb and produced with full access to the companys data, relates to Airbnbs claims about its impact on the hospitality industry: Its an outrage to... Continue reading
Airbnbs Misleading Data
LIZ KRUEGER February 10, 2016 ISSUE: ILLEGAL HOTELS AFFORDABLE HOUSING
New York – State Senator Liz Krueger released the following statement today in reaction to two reports about Airbnb. The first report, written by independent watchdogs, reveals that the company created a misleading set of numbers, removing over 1,000 listings in a one-time purge before allowing reporters and officials limited access to their data in November.
The second report, paid for by Airbnb and produced with full access to the companys data, relates to Airbnbs claims about its impact on the hospitality industry: Its an outrage to see these two reports coming out on the same day. Clearly Airbnb is willing to make all their data available for propaganda purposes, but they only offer doctored and misleading numbers to officials trying to enforce the law and protect affordable housing for regular New Yorkers. This kind of obstructive and duplicitous behavior is unacceptable from any company, particularly one that claims to look after the best interests of average people.
“In spite of their claim to champion the interests of “regular” people, Airbnb’s business practices encourage tenants and landlords to break the law, put their neighbors at risk, and contribute to the ongoing crisis of affordability in our city. If Airbnb really wants to work with the community, they should cooperate with city enforcement officials and ensure their users obey the law.”
“In spite of their claim to champion the interests of “regular” people, Airbnb’s business practices encourage tenants and landlords to break the law, put their neighbors at risk, and contribute to the ongoing crisis of affordability in our city. If Airbnb really wants to work with the community, they should cooperate with city enforcement officials and ensure their users obey the law
Share If your neighbor is renting an STR they are BREAKING THE LAW on Facebook Share If your neighbor is renting an STR they are BREAKING THE LAW on Twitter Share If your neighbor is renting an STR they are BREAKING THE LAW on Linkedin Email If your neighbor is renting an STR they are BREAKING THE LAW link

If your neighbor is renting an STR they are BREAKING THE LAW

by Jeff year around resident Mystic Historic District, almost 4 years ago

New York Daily News
ALBANY — Airbnb hosts and their neighbors are about to get an education in New York’s new law cracking down on the advertising of illegal short-term rentals. Share Better, an anti-Airbnb coalition that includes politicians and the hotel industry, is launching a new ad campaign and website Tuesday warning about the new law and the costs of violating it. Ads will also encourage neighbors who suspect illegal rentals in their building to alert the city.
“We need people to know the consequences of illegally renting their units,” said Assemblywoman Linda Rosenthal (D-Manhattan), who sponsored the anti-Airbnb... Continue reading
New York Daily News
ALBANY — Airbnb hosts and their neighbors are about to get an education in New York’s new law cracking down on the advertising of illegal short-term rentals. Share Better, an anti-Airbnb coalition that includes politicians and the hotel industry, is launching a new ad campaign and website Tuesday warning about the new law and the costs of violating it. Ads will also encourage neighbors who suspect illegal rentals in their building to alert the city.
“We need people to know the consequences of illegally renting their units,” said Assemblywoman Linda Rosenthal (D-Manhattan), who sponsored the anti-Airbnb law. Another ad reads:
If your neighbor is renting an entire apartment
for less than 30 days,
they are BREAKING THE LAW.
Ads will run on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and other websites. Using a compilation of tracking data, the coalition intends to focus the digital ads on internet addresses in neighborhoods with high concentrations of suspected Airbnb use, including Williamsburg, the East Village, Bedford-Stuyvesant, and the Upper West Side. The coalitions new website — www.IllegalHotels.org — will also feature a click-to-call mechanism for users to report lawbreakers to 311. We need people to know the consequences of illegally renting their units; said Assemblywoman Linda Rosenthal (D-Manhattan), who sponsored the anti-Airbnb law. Airbnb spokesman Peter Schottenfels blasted the new ad campaign.
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Sharing is Caring

by glitzgrl, almost 4 years ago

I’ve used short term rentals for various vacations, business trips and the occasional weekend “getaway.” I’ve always been impressed by the places I’ve stayed in. Most if not all short term rentals have guidelines, policies and procedures you sign at time of booking. The beauty of this is that at the end of your stay, you “grade” the homeowner and they “grade” you. If you don’t follow the rules, you’ll most likely receive a bad “grade” that limits your renting ability in the future. Why not share all the beauty that your home has to those who need a break... Continue reading
I’ve used short term rentals for various vacations, business trips and the occasional weekend “getaway.” I’ve always been impressed by the places I’ve stayed in. Most if not all short term rentals have guidelines, policies and procedures you sign at time of booking. The beauty of this is that at the end of your stay, you “grade” the homeowner and they “grade” you. If you don’t follow the rules, you’ll most likely receive a bad “grade” that limits your renting ability in the future. Why not share all the beauty that your home has to those who need a break from the norm? Wouldn’t increased revenue from tourists benefit everyone? I say sharing is caring…one short term rental at a time.
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We Welcome Visitors !!!

by Paul B. , almost 4 years ago

My wife and I have lived in Mystic for over thirty years. We I love to share our historic home with visitors from near and far. Most are multi-generational families or groups of long term friends getting together for a joyful reunion. We have hosted guests for weddings, birthdays, and even funerals. Our guests leave messages in our guest book noting their appreciation for the memories that will remain with them forever. If you have not hosted these guests in may be difficult to understand the gratitude they have for being share our home with them. We perform a hospitality... Continue reading
My wife and I have lived in Mystic for over thirty years. We I love to share our historic home with visitors from near and far. Most are multi-generational families or groups of long term friends getting together for a joyful reunion. We have hosted guests for weddings, birthdays, and even funerals. Our guests leave messages in our guest book noting their appreciation for the memories that will remain with them forever. If you have not hosted these guests in may be difficult to understand the gratitude they have for being share our home with them. We perform a hospitality service that would not otherwise be reproducible.
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Times are Changing

by Will Goetz, almost 4 years ago

“Come gather round people, wherever you roam, and admit that the waters around you have grown” - Bob Dylan
I live on Pearl Street, in the neighborhood near downtown Mystic. My wife and I moved here five years ago to be close to family and to the ocean. We also really liked the ability to walk to great restaurants and nightlife. While I’m relatively new as a resident, my connections to the area go back more than half a century.
As I read the accounts of my friends and neighbors on this page, I’m struck that this debate is really... Continue reading
“Come gather round people, wherever you roam, and admit that the waters around you have grown” - Bob Dylan
I live on Pearl Street, in the neighborhood near downtown Mystic. My wife and I moved here five years ago to be close to family and to the ocean. We also really liked the ability to walk to great restaurants and nightlife. While I’m relatively new as a resident, my connections to the area go back more than half a century.
As I read the accounts of my friends and neighbors on this page, I’m struck that this debate is really about the character Mystic. There are some who want to roll back time to before Mystic was written up in the New York papers as a great place to visit. Perhaps they don’t value the investment businesses like Pizzetta, Port of Call, and Bank and Bridge are making. Perhaps they think investment continues without tourists. Short-term rentals are an integral part of Mystic’s vibrant downtown, enabling downtown businesses to thrive and providing jobs and income to craftsmen. These businesses also employ many people directly.
Living in downtown, I can also vouch that short-term rental guests are not the only ones who raise a ruckus. A few days ago, as I was on my way into town along Gravel Street. I walked by a house with a group of youths playing beer pong on the lawn. They were exactly as you would imagine a boisterous group to be. I could still hear them as I got in my boat across the river. They’re the kids of the residents, so it’s okay. I’m sure that if they had been short-term rental guests the event would have been written up here as an example of the evils that irresponsible hosts are bringing to town. It’s fair to say that double standards like this only exist when there’s a lot of emotion involved in an issue.
My wife and I host AirBnB guests in our studio. We’ve contributed more than 1,000 individual overnight stays since we started. They nearly always eat three meals a day in town and shop in the stores. We’ve never had a complaint from a neighbor or a guest.
A vibrant downtown depends on short-term rentals. There is no way to replace the guest capacity in the near-term. Shutting down short-term rentals would start a cycle that would jeopardize investment by businesses, setting Mystic back years and throwing sand in the gears of entrepreneurship. I doubt that those who oppose short-term rentals really want this outcome.
I’m hopeful that the town can foster constructive dialogue to remove emotion from the discussion and create some means of managing short-terms rentals to the satisfaction of all. They are an essential part of Mystic’s economic ecosystem. The times are changing.
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Sharing our Beautiful Town and Keeping it Vibrant

by James, almost 4 years ago

Renting out an STR takes a lot of active management but it is also rewarding from a human perspective. We love Mystic and we love sharing that with visitors through our home. We do it because it is an important line-item in our family budget, allowing me to step away from my 8 to 6 job and become the more flexible parent, driving our kids to school and activities. But we also do it because we like enabling families and friends to enjoy the area and each other in a beautiful setting. In one very thoughtful review, a guest revealed... Continue reading
Renting out an STR takes a lot of active management but it is also rewarding from a human perspective. We love Mystic and we love sharing that with visitors through our home. We do it because it is an important line-item in our family budget, allowing me to step away from my 8 to 6 job and become the more flexible parent, driving our kids to school and activities. But we also do it because we like enabling families and friends to enjoy the area and each other in a beautiful setting. In one very thoughtful review, a guest revealed that staying at our house was the first time the family was seeing each other after COVID and visiting their grandmother at Academy Point. A fair number of guests have local connections who they are visiting and I am proud that we serve the community in this way.
Share Rentals - what's the difference 1 year, 1 month, 1 week, 1 day on Facebook Share Rentals - what's the difference 1 year, 1 month, 1 week, 1 day on Twitter Share Rentals - what's the difference 1 year, 1 month, 1 week, 1 day on Linkedin Email Rentals - what's the difference 1 year, 1 month, 1 week, 1 day link

Rentals - what's the difference 1 year, 1 month, 1 week, 1 day

by Tom Olson, almost 4 years ago

The Town of Groton Zoning Regulations are silent on any length of rental - so does that make any length of a rental of a residence a prohibited activity? Lets be realistic, and recognize that rentals for various durations have been and should continue to be a right of the property owner - and trying to enforce a ban on short term rentals is just not reasonable.
The Town of Groton Zoning Regulations are silent on any length of rental - so does that make any length of a rental of a residence a prohibited activity? Lets be realistic, and recognize that rentals for various durations have been and should continue to be a right of the property owner - and trying to enforce a ban on short term rentals is just not reasonable.
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Take the time to hear from Groton STR owners

by Tyler Hespeler, almost 4 years ago

I am a member of the Mystic Hosts Association. Please check out our website at www.mystic-hosts.com Unfortunately, there is a stigma and a lot of misinformation going around about STRs causing noise and problems in Groton. No one should be living next to a “party house” or be a neighbor of a house that has 15 people being stuffed into a 3-bedroom home. The overwhelming majority of STR hosts in this area are local, have been around for a long time, and are very professional in how we keep our homes and vet our guests. These listing platforms make it... Continue reading
I am a member of the Mystic Hosts Association. Please check out our website at www.mystic-hosts.com Unfortunately, there is a stigma and a lot of misinformation going around about STRs causing noise and problems in Groton. No one should be living next to a “party house” or be a neighbor of a house that has 15 people being stuffed into a 3-bedroom home. The overwhelming majority of STR hosts in this area are local, have been around for a long time, and are very professional in how we keep our homes and vet our guests. These listing platforms make it very easy to verify and validate our guests. We cherish our community and have spent a lot of time, money, and energy in our homes. We take pride in both our town and our homes and we are not bringing in the groups of people that our homes, our community, or our neighbors don’t deserve.
Please take some time to check out our website. It is filled with content and we have spent a lot of time trying to stand up for ourselves and separate ourselves from the STR stigma.
Courts have been divided on the issue on whether or not to regulate short term rentals. Groton did a 96-page amendment to its zoning laws in August of last year, during peak tourist season when these STRs were allegedly causing so many issues, yet STRs were not addressed at all in that 96 page revision.
We have a “Comment or Concern?” page on our website for anyone to reach out to us directly who would like to show support or has a complaint about and STR. There is an open invitation for anyone to reach out to us so we can have an open dialogue together because we’d like to hear any concerns anyone has so we can work together to fix them.
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The Real Truth about Short Term Rentals

by brucemcd, almost 4 years ago

Short Term Rentals are really simple. It is a profit making business that eliminates existing housing stock that a real neighbor might buy and occupy. I don't care whether they are well run or not. It's all about community. They steal our housing for profit and steal the prospect of a neighbor who has a real interest in the community, because they live here. Would you rather live next to a permanent neighbor or a constantly changing transient? That means people who rent their downstairs or a room are the only exception, because they are permanent residents.
The Groton P... Continue reading
Short Term Rentals are really simple. It is a profit making business that eliminates existing housing stock that a real neighbor might buy and occupy. I don't care whether they are well run or not. It's all about community. They steal our housing for profit and steal the prospect of a neighbor who has a real interest in the community, because they live here. Would you rather live next to a permanent neighbor or a constantly changing transient? That means people who rent their downstairs or a room are the only exception, because they are permanent residents.
The Groton P & Z staff has presided over the dissolution of our neighborhoods for several years under the guise of an egregious interpretation of the regulations. Some of the chief protagonists on staff do not even live here, so put our grievances at arm's length. They are biased and not friends to our quality of life. By turning a blind eye to the mounting STR problem, they have chosen to not deal with STR's forthrightly, and incredibly, have never put anything in writing to help sort out the problem. They clearly favor moneyed interests. Unfortunately, the power of the P & Z Commission has been usurped here.
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Other cities have BANNED short term rentals (STRs). We are not alone, but Mystic is falling behind

by Jeff year around resident Mystic Historic District, almost 4 years ago

Everyone is banning them for good reason, they destroy residental neighborhoods by turning them into "motels," commercial entities, for INVESTORS and LLCs to rent for a day or week to a dozen rich adults from MA, NY, NJ, like FRESHMEN ON SPRING BREAK to reak havock. If it is a LLC or the owner doesnt live there then IT AIN'T A RESIDENCE and is illegal in the court of comon sense. STRs displace opportunities where new hires to businesses in Groton can live and rent on an annual basis. The room next door in a hotel AINT A NEIGHBOR. STRs... Continue reading
Everyone is banning them for good reason, they destroy residental neighborhoods by turning them into "motels," commercial entities, for INVESTORS and LLCs to rent for a day or week to a dozen rich adults from MA, NY, NJ, like FRESHMEN ON SPRING BREAK to reak havock. If it is a LLC or the owner doesnt live there then IT AIN'T A RESIDENCE and is illegal in the court of comon sense. STRs displace opportunities where new hires to businesses in Groton can live and rent on an annual basis. The room next door in a hotel AINT A NEIGHBOR. STRs don't have a front desk to complain to, don't have to have fire alarms, sprinklers, and fire escapes. They are good for nobody but the investors who only do it for the money.
For example ... New Orleans City Council passed a sweeping overhaul of the city’s short-term rental rules on to rein in a practice that has spread throughout the city’s neighborhoods in recent years. The new rules limit short-term rentals in residential areas to owner-occupied properties, place caps on rentals in commercial and mixed-use buildings, and ban them outright in the French Quarter and the entire Garden District. Those restrictions are enforced by requirements that platforms such as Airbnb and HomeAway remove listings that violate the citys rules. The new rules, which will go into effect Dec. 1, are significantly more restrictive than existing regulations, which were put in place by the previous council in 2016. But the council stopped short of some provisions sought by many short-term rental opponents, most notably by calling for more study on a proposal that would have required large-scale rental operations to include some affordable housing units.
The council passed the series of changes unanimously, though some members noted this would not be the end of the discussion. “This is just the beginning of a larger conversation about sustainable tourism,” said Councilwoman Kristin Gisleson Palmer, who has overseen the effort to overhaul the rules. “The economic hardships too many of our residents face show we are not doing enough to address these inequities.” Residents calling for more restrictions on short-term rentals filled the council chamber Thursday, but, perhaps due to the more than year-long review process that’s already transpired, they were fewer in number than in the past. Only a handful of short-term rental owners showed up to make their case.
The opponents focused their arguments on the impact they said short-term rentals have had on the city, including a loss of affordable housing, rising property tax bills and evictions of longtime residents that are forcing people from the city. Both Airbnb and Expedia, the two major platforms in the short-term rental market, criticized the new rules after the vote. But both companies said they are committed to working with the city as the new rules are implemented.
New Orleans but exploded in scale under the ordinance passed in 2016. Up to 8,500 are now operating throughout the city according to some estimates, though fewer than 2,500 are officially licensed.
Under the current rules, owners can rent out any properties they own, leading to a proliferation of operators who bought up properties as investments specifically to use as short-term rentals. While the rules included restrictions on how often such properties could be rented out, those rules were difficult to enforce and were essentially ignored.
The new rules keep in place a ban on short-term rentals in most of the French Quarter and add a new ban in the Garden District. All of those elements of the proposal had been largely agreed on by council members months ago. How to handle commercial properties, from condos and apartment complexes in the Central Business District to corner stores in other neighborhoods, became the focus of the debate on Thursday.
Large-scale operations will continue to be allowed in the CBD and smaller-scale commercial and mixed-use areas in other parts of the city. New applications for such “commercial” short-term rentals would be limited to 25% of the units in a single property. There had been a last-minute push by some council members to eliminate that cap, at least in certain areas of the city, but that effort was dropped before Thursday’s meeting.
Critics expressed anger that some properties would not be forced to scale back their operations to comply with the new rules. And many argued that, when combined with the nearly four months it will take for the new rules to go into effect, that could allow firms to swoop in and stockpile licenses before the cap takes effect.
However, Safety and Permits Director Zachary Smith said he does not believe there would be a significant spike in applications ahead of the new rules going into effect. “We obviously don’t know what the market will do, but these are the rules that we have on the books,” Smith said. “We have not seen what I would consider to be an extraordinary amount of applicants.” Crescent City Land Trust Executive Director Julius Kimbrough warned the policy could create a situation where “multimillionaire property owners are able to dominate the business.” The months before the rules go into effect will “create a gold rush and creating a gold rush is not good public policy,” he said.
Affordable housing advocates also decried the elimination of a proposal to require that short-term rentals in commercial buildings be matched one-for-one with units of affordable housing. Council members said they would look into the issue further and could come back at a later date with regulations tying short-term rentals to affordable housing. The council also approved a ballot measure Thursday that would add a 6.75 percent tax to the bill of short-term rental guests. Voters will have to approve the measure on the November ballot. That tax was approved by the state Legislature as part of Mayor LaToya Cantrell’s infrastructure deal with the hospitality industry this year. The proceeds will be split, with the city getting 75 percent and New Orleans and Co., a tourism marketing organization, getting the rest.
In addition to that tax, and an existing tax collected on short-term rentals that is put toward enforcement efforts, the council also approved an increase in the per-night fee that will be charged. Currently set at $1 per night, that fee will go up to $5 per night on residential rentals and $12 on commercial rentals. Experts warn against New Orleans short-term rental limits; housing advocate: Just protecting already wealthy; Key elements of New Orleans’ new short-term rental rules: Short-term rentals will be allowed in residential properties only if they have a homestead exemption. Each of those properties can rent out up to three units. In commercial and mixed-use properties, only 25% of a building will be allowed to be used as short-term rentals going forward. However, in buildings that are already over that cap, the additional units can remain in operation. No short-term rentals will be allowed in most of the French Quarter or in the Garden District. Platforms such as Airbnb and HomeAway will be required to remove illegal listings. Short-term rentals that violate the rules, including regulations about disturbing neighbors, can have their licenses revoked. An 8.45 percent tax and a $1 per-night fee are already assessed on short-term rentals. The new rules will increase the nightly fee to $5 for residential rentals and $12 for commercial rentals. Voters will decide in November whether to add an additional 6.75percent tax on top of those.