EASTHAMTON — The city has suspended its zoning enforcement on short-term rentals for review, hoping to clear up some confusion surrounding the regulation of these rentals in the community.

The voluntary suspension applies to private properties used as short-term rentals, including those previously issued a cease-and-desist order by the zoning enforcement officer. The pause will remain in place as the City Council, Planning Board and Zoning Board of Appeals decide whether new zoning or general ordinances should be passed to regulate short-term rentals in the city. The city has announced that a reasonable period of time will be granted for people to seek permits under any new ordinance.

Easthampton Mayor Nicole LaChapelle explained that the suspension of enforcement is occurring in response to questions and concerns from residents, as short-term rentals have not been provided for under Massachusetts General Law. This created confusion when the city adopted an opt-in tax on short-term rentals like AirBNB stays in 2019, and some argued that it did not make sense to be taxed on these rentals when there was no official provision allowing them in the first place.

LaChapelle explained that even without the provision “people who are doing short-term rentals only pay the tax if they are renting it out through an app.”

That tax generates roughly $15,000 to $17,000 per year in Easthampton, she said.

LaChapelle noted that when the city adopted the opt-in tax, it was assumed that no additional language was needed in city ordinances regulating short-term rentals because they were similar enough to the bed and breakfasts that fell under the language of the tax. But concerns raised by residents since the adoption of the tax have revealed that there is room for more clarification.

Now, city officials are working on creating language for an ordinance officially allowing and regulating short-term rentals within the city.

“As a city, we want to provide options,” LaChapelle said, adding that such options should be made available both to visitors and property owners.

The city announced that the zoning suspension is not a waiver of the city’s rights nor an acknowledgment that any current use is legal under the city’s zoning ordinance.

LaChapelle also said that the city will continue to regulate “anything related to health and safety” or “general welfare” in these rental units, including fire alarms, sprinklers and more.

Alexa Lewis can be reached at alewis@gazettenet.com.