Norwich — The City Council on Monday will hear a presentation on one aspect of the local economy that has not suffered during the COVID-19 pandemic but often is overlooked by the traditional business world and city zoning and regulators: short-term rentals.

Norwich has 61 properties that are advertised on 70 different short-term rental online listings, including perhaps the best-known platform, Airbnb, according to the tracking firm Host Compliance LLC, a subsidiary of Granicus Inc.

Norwich officials have been discussing internally whether to regulate short-term rentals, either through new zoning regulations or a licensing process that could call for limits on the numbers of occupants, parking, frequency and size of special events and issues such as large or loud parties.

The council will hear a remote presentation by Granicus Inc. account executive Bruce McCaskill during a 6:30 p.m. informational meeting Monday. The meeting will be broadcast live on the city’s website, www.norwichct.org. Click the red “Livestream” button at the top of the homepage.

Host Compliance LLC gave the presentation to city planning staff in August and provided a 19-page proposal for a city ordinance governing short-term rentals and how Host Compliance could become the oversight management consultant for the city.

Host Compliance works with more than 400 large and small municipalities throughout the country on short-term rental issues, founder and general manager Ulrik Binzer said. The company monitors about 50 websites every day for listings within the client city’s jurisdictions, and if a new site is found, the company reaches out and informs the owner of the city’s regulations on short-term rentals.

“We cross reference all the advertised listings to make sure everyone is properly licensed,” Binzer said. “We reach out to owners in order to make them aware of the permit requirements.”

City Planner Deanna Rhodes said the company contacted the city “out of the blue” after noticing the growing number of short-term rentals with Norwich addresses being advertised on the dozens of online platforms.

If Norwich goes forward with regulating short-term rentals, given the limited city inspection staff, Rhodes recommends the city advertise for proposals for a management firm such as Host Compliance to monitor the rentals, ensure compliance and handle complaints. She said license fees paid by short-term rental owners would cover the costs of the service.

The Southeastern Connecticut Council of Governments was asked to address the issue for local cities and towns and make recommendations. A September 2019 four-page report summarized the issue and state laws and recommended local ordinances rather than zoning regulations.

“For the foreseeable future, STRs will be present and likely growing in number and popularity,” the SCCOG report stated. “This expansion will impact municipalities nationwide and in Connecticut. It is therefore important for southeastern Connecticut municipalities to determine if and how to best regulate STRs locally, sooner rather than later.”

New London considered a short-term rental ordinance in January but the City Council voted unanimously against it.

Earlier this year, the Groton Town Council convened a working group to discern if there was a problem with short-term rentals, what issues they present and to gather resources on the issues for the council, Groton Town Mayor Patrice Granatosky said. The group is done with its work and will present its research to the Committee of the Whole meeting tentatively scheduled for Oct. 13.

When asked about the possibility of a short-term rental ordinance in Groton, Granatosky said the council would have to make that decision.

Rhodes said she favors an ordinance for Norwich rather than a zoning regulation to regulate short-term rentals. While a zoning permit would be tied to the property even if it is sold, an ordinance could call for a licensing process by the owner or operator. The ordinance could allow the city to establish occupancy limits, parking arrangements, frequency of special events, such as parties or weddings. Licenses would have to be renewed periodically.

Rhodes said Norwich does not want to prohibit short-term rentals, as they can provide owners of large, historic homes with the income needed to renovate and maintain those properties. But regulation could protect adjacent property owners from a potential nuisance if the homes are used for frequent loud parties or events.

“The primary focus is frequency,” Rhodes said of special events at short-term rentals. “You want to feel your home is a place you go to relax, not that there will be events going on every weekend next door. We want to find a balance between all of those things.”

Rhodes said the short-term rental presentation and possible ordinance is separate from the city’s ongoing dispute with the owner of the Mount Crescent House at 270 Broadway. That property was approved as a bed and breakfast, but it has been hosting large weddings and gatherings for the past several years. The city alleges the owner is in violation of its permits, and enforcement action is underway.

Host Compliance LLC has a 24-hour hotline service that allows client municipalities to manage complaints “in real time.” If someone calls Host Compliance or files a complaint online, the company asks for evidence, such as photos or videos of the offensive activity, to present to local law enforcement if necessary. Or the company will call the owner any time of the day or night.

“If there is a short-term rental at that address, we call the individual in real time and notify them of the complaint,” Binzer said. “You don’t want to waste a lot of police resources on these issues.”

Day Staff Writer Kimberly Drelich contributed to this report.

c.bessette@theday.com