Stonington — The Planning and Zoning Commission has decided that the town’s zoning code does not regulate short-term rentals such as those offered on Airbnb and VRBO.

This means that the town will not enforce the handful of violation notices it issued to people who rented out their homes.

If residents now wish to have the town regulate the practice, Director of Planning Jason Vincent said someone would have to propose an ordinance and voters then would have to approve it at a town meeting.

“If we really care about this, then we have to do it the right way, and the right way is to have a dialogue with the community and let people vote on it,” he said.

Residents could submit a formal petition proposing an ordinance or selectmen could offer a proposal.

Because of the widespread interest in the issue, Vincent said that in late March or early April the town will hold a workshop in which residents will be able to discuss ideas about short-term rentals.

In December, a large crowd of renters and opponents attended a Planning and Zoning Commission forum to tell members how they feel about the controversial practice, which has exploded with the advent of internet sites such as Airbnb and VRBO. The town had issued a handful of violation notices to homeowners it has received complaints about.

Previously, planning staff had interpreted existing zoning regulations to say that short rentals of less than 30 days is not a permitted use in the town’s residential zones. Complicating the issue is that for many years homes and cottages, especially in waterfront communities, such as Lords Point and Masons Island, have been rented to people during the summer.

j.wojtas@theday.com