Even though rules prohibiting motel guests from staying longer than 21 days are in effect, health officials don’t believe anyone is paying attention.

On Wednesday, the Board of Health voted to send a letter informing all hotel and motel owners that hearings will be held starting in December if the bylaw is broken.

Chair Amy Wiegandt said board members learned that owners were potentially ignoring the law.

“I don’t think people ever really moved out. We were told the same cars are parked in the lots for weeks and weeks,” said Wiegandt.

In October of 2015, the board imposed a 21-day limit on how long a guest can remain in a motel or hotel room following a year’s worth of discussions. There is a 90-day limit on stays in efficiency units. The regulations went into effect May 1 of this year.

Part of the reason for adopting the law, board members said, was to ultimately create better living conditions for the homeless, as well as spur motel and efficiency unit owners to improve room quality.

Failure to comply with the bylaw may result in fines for hotel and motel owners, said Health Agent Bob Ethier. After meeting with the town’s attorney, Ethier said it appears that the owners should be fined for violations, not the occupants.

“[The owners] are the ones that are allowing this to go on,” said Ethier.