Westport residents will have the chance to speak their peace on the town’s regulation of short term rentals (STRs), like those offered on AirBnB and other sites, when the planning board holds a public hearing on the matter this coming Tuesday, Jan. 9.

Short term rentals are not currently regulated by the town. But four proposed changes to the town’s zoning by-laws would establish a system for licensing, inspecting and otherwise regulating them in the town’s residential/agriculture zone.

The draft regs grew out of several months’ worth of work by the newly-formed short-term rental committee, which reviewed early plans drawn up by the planning board last year. The new regulations would also establish rules and procedures for those operating bed and breakfasts in the residential/agricultural zone — while B&Bs have been an allowable use in the zone for some time, the new regs would establish more oversight.

Tuesday’s public hearing is the last step the town must take before the measure goes to Town Meeting this Spring.

What do they say?

According to the draft, the proposed bylaw changes provide “for the orderly operation (of rentals and bed and breakfasts) and prevents negative impacts on neighborhood character, housing availability and house prices.”

Specifically, four sections of the town’s zoning by-laws would be amended to make provisions for STRs and B&Bs:

n Owners must register with the board of health and obtain a permit which would need to be renewed annually. The board will determine the number of bedrooms and the number of guests the home can lawfully accommodate.

n Residents who rent the homes, condos or apartments in which they live will not be allowed to let or sublet them for use as a short term rental. Instead, only the following may seek to obtain a permit in the residential/agriculture zone: A property owner who lives in Westport, a legal resident of Westport, an LLC in which the majority owner lives in Westport, or a trust in which the trustee lives in Westport.

n Under the rules, stays must be a minimum of two nights, a maximum of 31 nights, and only lodging will be allowed. Specifically, the bylaw forbids commercial meetings and “for profit events or venues or uses” are not permitted.

n Owners will not be allowed to put up signs advertising their property as available for short term rental, and stays must be a minimum of two nights. There must also be parking adequate for the number of guests permitted in the rental unit.

n Though short term rentals are permitted as an accessory use, the following may not be used for short term rentals: Residential properties designated as affordable or otherwise income-restricted; and dwelling subject to any local, state or federal law that prohibits the leasing or subleasing of the unit as a short term rental.

n Rental owners must provide contact information for a local person who can be called if there is a problem or emergency.

n In addition, rentals will also be subject to other applicable state and federal laws; the owner must be current on taxes.

Tuesday’s public hearing will be held at 6:30 p.m. in the Westport Town Hall annex.