Plymouth votes to impose fee on Airbnb rentals

Plymouth’s Town Meeting voted to impose a 3 percent community impact fee on short-term rentals such as those rented through Airbnb.

The new rule applies to stays of 31 days or less, but exempts properties rented fewer than 14 days a year. The fee would take effect July 1.

The state approved taxing short-term rentals late last year.

During discussion at the April 6 Special Town Meeting, opponents of the new fee argued that it would make it harder for people to rent out rooms during the summer and use the income to pay their taxes, according to Town Clerk Laurence Pizer.

That opinion didn’t prevail, though, with Town Meeting members voting 66 to 53 to accept the fee for property owners with multiple short-term rental units, and 61 to 56 to impose the fee on those who rent out rooms in their homes, he said.