BUFFALO, N.Y. — A couple weeks after members of the Common Council floated the idea of banning certain type of permits for Airbnbs in Buffalo, the resolution was formally introduced on Tuesday.
Councilmembers Bollman, Halton-Pope, Nowakowski, and Rivera co-sponsored the resolution, which calls for a moratorium on certain non-owner-occupied short-term rental permits issued by the city.
Delaware District councilman Joel Feroleto voted against the resolution Tuesday, and ultimately the resolution was kicked down to the legislation committee, where it will be debated next Tuesday.
"I was going to vote no on this if it was going to be adopted," North District representative Joseph Golombek Jr. "Because I have some concerns with this."
Golombek said that he supported the moratorium last year that led to a new violation and fine structure for illegal Airbnbs.
"My concern is, we do another moratorium right now, what ultimately would we end up accomplishing by that?" Golombek said.
The new moratorium calls for a complete ban of non-owner-occupied, short-term rentals permits in residential and single-family zoned neighborhoods throughout the city.
If passed, that ban would be in place until at least March 1, 2025.
Additionally, the moratorium allows for the renewal of a permit that has been previously approved. The resolution also allows a permit to be issued for a non-owner occupied short-term rental if the owner lives within 1,000 feet of the property that is seeking the application.
The resolution does not impact owner-occupied short-term rentals, a situation where someone may live in a multiunit home and seeks an Airbnb permit.
"We're trying to protect residentially zoned areas to remain residential, and we're trying to protect neighborhoods that are facing serious disharmony," Councilmember Nowakowski said.
The council sent the resolution to the legislation committee for further debate. The next committee meeting is Oct. 22.