Bridgewater's Efforts To Crackdown On Airbnbs, Short-Term Rentals Continues

BRIDGEWATER, NJ — A new ordinance to crack down against Airbnb and short-term rentals in Bridgewater was not introduced at last week's Council meeting as more work is needed.

"What seemed on its surface to be very simple, as we dug into it has become more complex," said Council President Michael Kirsh at the Sept. 7 meeting. "When we pass ordinances, we want to make sure that we get them right. And certainly, speed is also important but accuracy and being correct is even more important."

Bridgewater is looking to put in more regulations against Airbnb and short-term rentals after concerns of transients and strangers arriving on an almost daily basis to one Bridgewater neighborhood were raised by residents.

Initially, the ordinance was expected to be completed at the Aug. 17 Council meeting but more work was needed. Hopes of introducing a new ordinance at the Sept. 7 meeting were also postponed.

"There continues to be a lot of work in this regard. As we work through an issue we get three more issues that come at us," said Council Vice President Timothy Ring.

The Council is currently doing more research into other New Jersey communities that have short-term rental restrictions such as Point Pleasant. Kirsh said the idea is to look at those towns and come up with a better fit for Bridgewater.

Ring said the Council is "actively working" on the ordinance and says the goal is to have a new draft ordinance to introduce at the Sept. 21 meeting.

• See Related: Concerns Of Strangers, Transients Prompt Bridgewater To Limit Airbnbs
• Related: Bridgewater's Crackdown On Airbnbs, Short-Term Rentals Needs More Work

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