Substitute House Bill No. 5536 establishes a state short-term rental registry in Connecticut, set to take effect on October 1, 2026. The bill mandates that all short-term rental operators and owners who list or advertise properties in the state must register their rentals annually with the Department of Revenue Services (DRS) starting January 1, 2027, with the exception of properties already licensed by municipalities with relevant ordinances. Each registration will incur a fee of $100, which will help cover administrative costs. The DRS is responsible for creating an online, searchable registry that allows individuals to view registered short-term rentals by municipality.

To ensure compliance, the bill grants the DRS commissioner the authority to impose civil penalties of up to $1,000 for violations, particularly for operators or owners listing unregistered or unlicensed rentals. The bill also requires operators and owners to notify the DRS of any changes to their registration information within thirty days. It defines key terms such as "short-term rental," "short-term rental operator," and "short-term rental facilitator," clarifying the roles and responsibilities of each party involved. Furthermore, each short-term rental property must be registered separately, including the property’s address, the registration fee, and contact information for both the operator and owner, with additional requirements for out-of-state business entities. Overall, the legislation aims to enhance the regulation and oversight of short-term rentals in Connecticut.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill: 12-408h