Daily Regulatory Notes 10/21/24
Wayne County, PA
The Texas Township Board of Supervisors approved revised zoning ordinances on October 7, introducing new regulations for short-term rentals and renewable energy installations.
The short-term rental regulations include rules such as:
- Occupancy of a short-term rental is limited to two people per bedroom plus an additional two people.
- All parking must be on the property, and the short-term rental owner must provide one parking space per bedroom on the property.
- The owner will prevent guests from creating “unreasonable noise or disturbances,” and either the owner or a designated contact person will respond within an hour to any emergency.
- Short-term rentals will have smoke detectors in each bedroom and common hallway on each floor; carbon monoxide detectors for coal, oil or gas furnaces; and a fire extinguisher in the kitchen.
The ordinances also impose more standards on commercial solar fields and wind turbines. The full breakdown of regulations can be found here.
Stay ahead of regulatory changes that may affect you. STRisker tracks local councils, committees, commission meetings, and more.
West Windsor, VT
West Windsor's new short-term rental ordinance, approved by the Selectboard on September 23, introduces a licensing system for operators, requiring annual fees and documentation to ensure compliance with state health, safety, and tax regulations.
Operators must also demonstrate the following:
- compliance with Vermont's health and fire safety regulations
- provide proof of tax payments,
- and ensure that their property's septic or sewer system can accommodate the number of occupants.
Meanwhile, the town will use third-party software to monitor compliance and issue penalties ranging from $125 to $750 per day for violations. The ordinance received backing from the Vermont Short Term Rental Alliance, which views it as a balanced approach that doesn’t limit the ability to rent but promotes accountability. Town officials are now focused on selecting software vendors to help enforce the new rules.
Full text on the ordinance here.
Buffalo, NY
Buffalo's Common Council is set to discuss a moratorium on granting special-use permits for non-owner-occupied short-term rentals, like Airbnb, as the city faces quality-of-life issues linked to a surge in these rentals. The moratorium, which would last until March 1, aims to give lawmakers time to find ways to balance preserving neighborhoods with the demand for short-term lodging.
Exceptions to the moratorium include renewals of existing licenses and new applications for owner-occupied rentals or non-owner-occupied rentals where the owner lives within 1,000 feet.
“I’ve been in neighborhood block clubs where it’s gotten really hostile, where neighbors are at each other’s throats when it comes to this. And you can see in our own chambers when there’s applications … the neighborhood shows up in droves against an application,” said Fillmore Council Member Mitchell P. Nowakowski. - Buffalo News
Buffalo first established a licensing framework for non-owner-occupied rentals in 2019, but recent changes, including fee hikes and stricter penalties for violations, reflect growing concerns about the impact of short-term rentals on the community.
Further debate on this is to be had at the next commission meeting tomorrow, October 22. Details on the meeting can be found below.
```More on Buffalo's Application process.
Lexington, KY
On October 15th, the General Government and Planning (GGP) Committee has tentatively approved new rules allowing short-term rentals in rural Fayette County, with strict conditions to protect agricultural land and operations.
The ordinance, now headed to the full council and the Urban County Planning Commission, includes requirements like:
- Requiring all rural short-term rentals to obtain a conditional-use permit from the Board of Adjustment.
- Only allowing hosted short-term rentals (”hosted” means that the operator lives on the property).
- Setting an occupancy limit of two people per bedroom.
- Require a one-mile spacing requirement between all units.
Implementation is expected in the coming months, with the council continuing to debate changes to the short-term rental rules.
Read more about it here: Lexington Herald Leader
Taos County, NM
Taos County will enforce a new short-term rental ordinance, introducing significant regulations on non-owner-occupied vacation rentals. Initial permit applications will have to be done by paper. The local government estimates to have the online portal ready by January.
Only 400 permits are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Check out Taos County’s website for more information on the application.
While there’s no cap on properties where the owner lives, the ordinance will limit the number of nonowner-occupied rentals in 35 communities — where the percentage of short-term rentals will be restricted to 3% or 7% of available housing, depending on the character of the community.
The ordinance also:
- limits a single person, married couple, or entity to owning a maximum of two non-owner-occupied rentals;
- requires every short-term rental to have a contact person available 24/7 to address complaints or emergencies;
- requires the primary renter of any short-term rental be at least 21 years of age.
Compliant existing rentals registered under the county’s previous regulations will be grandfathered in, but new applicants must comply with stricter rules. The full ordinance is linked below.
Winter Park, CO
The Winter Park Town Council has unanimously passed Ordinance 624 in an October 1 Council Meeting, requiring fire and life safety inspections for all short-term rental properties by August 1, 2025. Property owners must submit a certificate of inspection when registering or renewing their short-term rental licenses, with inspections conducted by the East Grand Fire Protection District for a $100 fee.
A mobile app will facilitate virtual inspections, allowing owners to upload photos. This program also extends to residential and commercial properties, enhancing community safety by providing first responders with vital information.
Read more about this on: Sky-Hi News
Georgetown, TX
Beginning November 1, Georgetown, Texas, will require all Airbnb and Vrbo operators to obtain city approval before renting their properties. This decision by the city council follows a surge in short-term rentals, which have more than doubled since 2021, reaching over 280 properties. Operators must register with the city, provide 24/7 contact information, notify neighbors within 200 feet, and pay a registration fee and hotel occupancy tax.
"With the way that we've designed this program, it's meant to be a low barrier to entry," said McAuliffe. "Just a minimal compliance type of program where it's easy to register, easy to make payments, and all the pieces we ask for in addition are very easy to come by.”
Read the full ordinance here.
Learn more about Georgetown’s Short-term Rental regulations here.
Seabrook, SC
During an October 15 meeting, the town of Seabrook Island is considering capping the number of short-term rentals (STRs).
```Learn more about the draft included in their October 15 Meeting Agenda.
The proposed ordinance suggests a cap of 540 STRs in an "overlay district" near the beach, which includes townhomes and condos, while other residential areas (single-family mostly) would be limited to 105 rentals. If enacted, this ordinance could mean that about 25% of the island would consist of short-term rentals. This plan has sparked division among residents.
Additionally, the town is contemplating modifications to STR permit fees and regulations concerning trash disposal, illegal dumping, and parking. The council is expected to conduct the first reading of the proposed ordinance on October 28, with a final reading anticipated in November.
You can also watch the full public hearing recording here.
Matthews, NC
New text amendments approved by the Matthews Board of Commissioners that adds the short-term rental regulations to the Unified Development Ordinance. The new ordinance becomes effective on Nov 14, 2024.
Read more about Matthews' Short Term Rental regulations in their website.
Woodstock, NY
Calling all Woodstock New York residents! 🏁
"The Zoning Revision Committee is working on the Short-Term Rental Law," Councilwoman Laura Ricci said. "We're hoping for input because by having the survey ... the Zoning Revision Committee is hoping to get a sense of where is Woodstock," she said. "Do we want (regulations) stricter? Do we want them looser? We really want to...see what is on people's minds.” - The Daily Freeman
Product Highlight ⭐
STRisker's News Archive
Check out our short-term and vacation rental news archive. Where 9,000+ articles can be searched by location, regulation type, and impacts.
In case you missed it... Check out one of our most recent posts.
