Ridgefield, CT Short-Term Rentals: Short-Term Rental Permits (2026)
Short-term rental permit rules in Ridgefield, CT, also called Airbnb permits, vacation rental licenses, or STR registration, list the application steps, fees, and operating requirements for hosting.
Key Facts
- No permit needed
- Up to 14 nights / 2 stays a year
- ZEO Zoning Permit tier
- 15-45 nights / 6 stays a year
- Commission Special Permit tier
- 46-180 nights / 26 stays a year
- Adopted
- 06-23-2026 (A-26-1)
- Reporting deadline
- 3 business days before each stay
- Enforcing officer
- Zoning Enforcement Officer
Summary
Ridgefield's Zoning Regulations set a three-tier short-term rental permit scheme under § 8.11.C, adopted June 23, 2026. Hosting up to 14 lodging nights (2 stays) a year needs no permit; 15 to 45 nights requires a Zoning Enforcement Officer permit; 46 to 180 nights requires a Special Permit from the Planning and Zoning Commission after a public hearing.
1. Permitted Without Zoning Permit - A property owner who wishes to offer (i.e. advertise or made available for booking) or provide Short-Term Rental(s) for not more than 14 Lodging Nights (and not more than 2 Lodging Stays) per calendar year may do so without a zoning permit. ... 2. Permitted With Zoning Permit (ZEO) - A property owner who wishes to offer or provide Short-Term Rental(s) between 15 and 45 Lodging Nights (and not more than 6 Lodging Stays) per calendar year shall first obtain a Zoning Permit. ... 3. Permitted With Special Permit (Commission) - A property owner who wishes to offer or provide Short-Term Rental(s) between 46 and 180 Lodging Nights (and not more than 26 Lodging Stays) per calendar year shall first obtain a Special Permit from the Commission.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: the cited page had not changed since it was quoted.
Full Breakdown
A. B-C. At the lowest tier, an owner offering not more than 14 lodging nights and not more than 2 lodging stays per year needs no permit and no reporting. a. a. b. D.
Violations & Fines
Exceeding the 14-night/2-stay threshold without first obtaining the required Zoning Permit or Special Permit is a citable offense: § 8.11.C.1 states a property owner who offers Short-Term Rentals beyond that limit 'shall be cited and fined by the ZEO.' The ZEO or Commission can also deny a permit outright where the property carries open building code or zoning violations. General zoning enforcement under § 9.4 applies as well, including per-day fines under Connecticut General Statutes Chapter 124 and appeal rights to the Zoning Board of Appeals.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many nights can I rent my Ridgefield home short-term without a permit?
What permit do I need for a moderate volume of short-term rentals?
When does the Planning and Zoning Commission get involved in a short-term rental?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Ridgefield
How Ridgefield compares: Most Airbnb-Friendly Cities in America·Compare Ridgefield to another location·View the Connecticut short-term rentals overview
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