The Brookhaven Town Board has decided to adopt a measure that permits Brookhaven Town to assess fines of up to $6,000, including a term of incarceration of up to six months, for those who rent their homes for fewer than 4 weeks at a time. This recently adopted measure also makes it illegal to rent out swimming pools separately from a house. Some Fire Island communities are exempt from this new measure because of the prevalence of rental housing. This new legislation continues a steady trend on Long Island of imposing more restrictions on short-term house rentals. Short term rental companies and landlords face numerous challenges on Long Island. On the North fork, for example, towns and villages are stepping up enforcement against owners who allow guests to stay fewer than 14 days. Some officials are employing the use of artificial intelligence to police online listings or collect rental taxes. It is meant to crack down on the growing trend of people who rent out their homes through services such as Airbnb, which has sometimes resulted in disruptive or destructive behavior by renters.
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