Chautauqua County is eyeing some changes to its regulations for short-term rental properties.

The changes are designed to align county regulations better with state regulations.

During the legislature’s Administrative Services Committee meeting, county Finance Director Kitty Lyons said that she has been working with the county Law Department to update the local law which establishes a tax on occupancy of hotels and short-term rental rooms to align changes at the state level.

A lot of the changes had to do with definitions of short-term rentals.

One specific change is that currently short-term renters must apply for an occupancy tax certificate three days after establishing their business. The county wants to require renters to apply for the certificate before opening.

Once a business registers, the county will return the certificate within five days.

“It will be pretty automatic once our new portal is open. They’ll be able to register on line,” Lyons said.

Renewals will take place every two years. The county is looking to have all renewals take place at the same time, so in the future some businesses will only be given a one-year certificate.

Lyons said businesses who don’t renew but continue to accept short-term rentals will be contacted directly.

Lyons said when a business registers, it will attest to having met certain requirements, including having a posted evacuation diagram, posted emergency phone numbers, a working fire extinguisher, and are in compliance with health and safety requirements.

Another change is that currently the regulations permit the county to contact a renter directly should the owner fail to collect the tax. Lyons said that policy isn’t practical so it’s being eliminated.

The changes will be voted on at the legislature’s full meeting which is set for Wednesday night, May 27.

Lyons said if there are further changes needed, the vote can be delayed until June.