Rental registry deadline is May 1 using new town permit website
April 30, 2025 | By Lisa ScagliottiWaterbury’s efforts to focus on housing are taking a step forward this month as a new online residential rental registry has launched. Approximately 3,000 property owners recently were mailed postcards announcing a May 1 deadline for individuals to log in and list their rental properties.
Post cards mailed to Waterbury property owners recently announce the rental registry creation and sign up.
There is no fee to register, although the ordinance the Waterbury Select Board adopted last May that created the registry does outline fines for not complying.
The postcard asks property owners with residential rental units to sign up by May 1.
The ordinance is posted on the town website under ordinances and the new page, waterburyvt.com/rentals, links to the town’s new online permitting portal.
The site has been created with software the town has purchased to shift a number of permitting applications online, such as building and zoning permits, entertainment and vendor permits, and the new rental registry.
The rental registration requires that all properties rented for residential use be listed with the town: single-family homes that are rented, Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), and properties that contain two or more rental units. The requirement applies to properties rented for both short-term and long-term periods.
The town’s Housing Task Force, created in 2022, recommended that Waterbury set up a registry as a means to take stock of the housing market. As that advisory committee to the Waterbury Select Board began its work in early 2023, it became clear that there is only partial data available on the size and nature of the town’s rental housing.
Task Force Chair Joe Camaratta explained that the best estimate is that Waterbury has approximately 660 rental units. Of those, about 180 are for short-term use. “However, we don't know if the short-term rentals are coming from the long-term rental stock or if they are ADUs, etc. to owned households,” Camaratta said. “This data should provide some clarity on that topic.”
Waterbury Zoning Administrator Mike Bishop is overseeing the registry signup. He said this week that more than 150 property owners had signed up so far and only a handful have had issues navigating the new online system.
He said he’s looking forward to seeing the information the database will provide. “It will give us an idea of what we have for [rental] housing stock,” he said. “We really don’t know exactly how many apartments are available.”
The ordinance itself explains its purpose, stating that one aim is to make sure there is a balance of long- and short-term rentals in the community. It notes that the local economy needs housing both for residents and visitors.
In addition, it points out that a town responsibility is to “limit public nuisances.” It explains that residents should be able to expect “quiet enjoyment” of their neighborhoods without “adverse impacts on parking, garbage, noise, outdoor/nighttime activities.”
Creating the registry will be a key way to collect data directly from property owners that town officials can use to understand the market and track changes over time, the ordinance states. “The Town believes this data will assist in informing any future investment decisions, policy goals, or regulatory concerns,” it says.
Collecting key details
Signing up to register a property takes just a few minutes. Bishop explained that it requires creating an account on the new website with an email address and password.
The site asks individuals to list how many units they have, the property address, the owner’s name and contact information, as well as contact details for the individual responsible for the unit if that’s different from the owner.
Having contact information, particularly for short-term rentals, will come in handy, Bishop said.
He shared an example of how the registry has already been useful since it opened this month. A caller to the town offices wanted to report that a bear had apparently gotten into trash in a container at a short-term rental, but they didn’t know who to contact about the mess.
Bishop said he was forwarded the message and looked up the address. “The owner had already registered,” he said. So he was able to contact them to pass along the information.
The registry form also asks for the number of bedrooms in units, the time periods units are rented for, whether there are 12-month leases, and whether the rental is located at the owner’s primary residence.
Town officials set this Thursday, May 1, as a deadline for property owners to register their rentals. Municipal Manager Tom Leitz said there are no plans to impose fines as the registry just opened. He said town officials want to ensure that property owners are aware of the new requirement so that they can sign up and be in compliance. “The intent and very strong desire is always to avoid enforcement,” he said.
Permitting shifts from paper to online
The new software making the online rental registry possible is a platform called SmartGov that’s designed to manage permit applications, enforce regulations, and promote public transparency, Bishop explained.
“With SmartGov, residents and businesses can easily apply for zoning and special event permits and submit their rental registry filings at any time. Future updates will introduce additional licensing modules if the town chooses,” he said.
The platform also has the ability for individuals to file zoning or code enforcement complaints which would be forwarded to the appropriate town staff for review.
For those interested in following local development projects, Bishop explained that information in SmartGov will be accessible to the public through a dashboard feature. That will offer a real-time view of every active building permit, allowing anyone to track applications from submission to completion, he said.
For those with projects in the permitting process, the system also will have the capability for people to request final inspections necessary for certificates of completion or occupancy, he added.
According to the 2024 Waterbury Annual Report, the town spent just under $15,000 in 2024 and has budgeted another $16,000 for 2025 to get the new system in place. “This investment marks a significant advancement in technology, accessibility, and efficiency for the town,” Bishop said. “The new system replaces paper forms with 24/7 online applications, automated status updates, and integrated payment processing.”
However, for those who prefer it, Bishop pointed out that paper submissions for permit applications and such will still be possible.
Direct any questions about the rental registry or the sign-up process to Waterbury Zoning Administrator Mike Bishop at 802-244-1012 or mbishop@waterburyvt.com.