Pittsford's STR Ban Hangs in the Balance as Grandfather Exception Stalls

If you are running a short-term rental in the Village of Pittsford, your legal status is unresolved and the clock is ticking. The village banned short-term rentals in 2024, but Mayor Alysa Plummer is pushing a moratorium that would grandfather in hosts who were already operating before the law took effect. That proposal was tabled at a recent Board of Trustees meeting, and at least one board member is openly hostile to the idea, meaning existing operators have no protection right now and no clear timeline for when they might get one.

What the Ban Actually Says

The Pittsford Board of Trustees passed a resolution in 2024 banning short-term rentals, including platforms like Airbnb and VRBO, from accepting guests for stays of less than 30 days. The ban followed multiple rounds of public input. "We had public hearing after public hearing. We had a valid vote. We eliminated short-term rentals from the village," one board member said at the recent meeting. Property owners were given 15 months after the legislation passed to come into compliance with the new rules.

The Grandfather Proposal and Why It Stalled

Mayor Plummer wants the board to carve out an exception for hosts who were already renting before the ban went into effect. She framed it as a fairness issue for operators who made financial commitments in good faith. "I guess what I would like the board to consider is that they've made investments, they're part of our community, they do provide a service to our community. There have not been any issues at all that have been identified," Plummer said.

The mechanism she proposed is a moratorium, which would effectively pause enforcement against qualifying existing operators while the board deliberates further. But the proposal did not advance at the Board of Trustees meeting. At least one trustee pushed back hard, arguing that a grandfather clause would be arbitrary and would penalize hosts who already converted their properties to comply with the ban. "For one thing, even if we were to consider that, what do you tell the people that already converted their short-term rentals into something else?" the board member said.

What This Means for Hosts Right Now

The practical situation for Pittsford hosts is uncomfortable. The ban is in effect. The compliance window has been running since the resolution passed in 2024. There is no approved exception, no moratorium, and no grandfather clause on the books. Hosts who are still operating are doing so in violation of village law, regardless of how long they have been renting or how smoothly their operations have run.

The mayor's sympathy is real, but sympathy is not a legal shield. Until the board votes to adopt a moratorium or some other formal exception, the ban applies to everyone. And given the opposition already voiced by at least one trustee, that vote is far from guaranteed.

What Hosts Should Do Now

• Do not assume the grandfather exception will pass. The board tabled the moratorium proposal without approving it, and opposition is on the record.
• If you converted your property away from short-term rentals to comply with the ban, the board member's comments suggest you are unlikely to receive any retroactive benefit from a future exception.
• If you are still operating, consult a local attorney about your exposure under the current ban before the board meets again.
• Monitor future Board of Trustees meeting agendas closely. The moratorium proposal was tabled, not killed, so it could return for a vote at any time.

The Bigger Picture

Pittsford is not alone. As Mayor Plummer herself acknowledged, local governments across the country have been tightening restrictions on short-term rentals, driven by concerns about long-term housing affordability and neighborhood disruption. What makes Pittsford unusual is that the debate is not about whether to restrict STRs, but whether to soften a ban that is already law. The outcome here could signal how serious the village is about enforcement going forward.

For the complete Pittsford compliance guide including tax calculator, checklist, and daily monitoring, see Pittsford, NY STR Regulations.