Commission raises short-term rental, occupancy and inspection concerns

Commissioners raised concerns about short-term rentals and unregistered rental spaces, using an example of a church basement being converted into an apartment. Several members said they wanted clearer rules about when a certificate of occupancy (CO) is required and how the town should track rental units for safety and property valuation.

One participant (S6) emphasized limited local inspection capacity — Stamford does not have a local wiring or health inspector — and said the town may need to rely on state-level inspections or require property owners to obtain proper COs as part of the permit process. A commissioner noted that, if a dwelling is rented, the town should have a record of who is occupying the unit and whether safety inspections have occurred.

The commission treated the discussion as exploratory and asked staff to research CO requirements and registration options.