East Hampton Town Board Considers Implementing Rental Registry Law

The East Hampton Town Board is considering a law that would require some type of rental registration for all homeowners in the area.

According to Town Supervisor Larry Cantwell, the law is still under draft form and still has to undergo review. However, he says that there will be public meetings to discuss the possible law later this month once the Town has a specific proposal.

Currently, there is no law on the subject, so the board is hoping implement a rule to require homeowners to register all rentals with the Town by next summer in order to better enforce and prevent over occupation, according to Cantwell.

Cantwell says that there is probably a “couple 1,000” homeowners who rent their homes to visitors, especially over the summer.

The Board began to discuss the topic during two public information meetings in the past, and have received mixed responses from local residents, with some believing that it’s not necessary while some believing it is necessary, according to Cantwell.

“The purpose of the rental registry is not to stop rentals,” he said. “People have been renting in East Hampton for years.”

According to Cantwell, seven out of the 10 towns in Suffolk County have already implemented a rental registry, including Southampton Town.

In July, a local resident started a petition on change.org to create a rental registry which received 334 signatures.