Daily Regulatory Notes 11/12/2024
Burlington, VT
The city of Burlington is seeking public input as it prepares to establish a Short-Term Compliance and Licensing Program aimed at better managing short-term rentals like Airbnbs.
Currently, Burlington lacks specific short-term rental regulations, applying general by-laws instead. In response to a 2023 City Council directive, staff are reviewing zoning, business licensing, and resource needs to build an effective compliance program that will support the enforcement of new regulations. Feedback from this outreach will guide city leaders, with a report expected in early 2025.
Upcoming relevant meetings 📆
```Dallas, TX
```In a recent meeting in Dallas, city council members are debating the existing short-term rental (STR) ordinance, with some pushing for a revision or repeal.
“I think we passed the most heavy-handed ordinance possible and I think it's clear that the courts agree that it does not pass legal muster," said [Councilman] West, who voted against a residential STR ban last year. "We can continue waiting and while we're waiting we're missing out on tens of millions potentially in [Hotel Occupancy] tax money and we have an ordinance we can't enforce. So I think we admit that we got it wrong, we move forward, and we actually pass an ordinance that gets it right.” - CandysDirt.com
The ordinance in question is an amendment to create a new lodging use for "Short-term rental lodging" and more. Read the ordinance below:
Menlo Park, CA
Menlo Park's Measure CC, a ballot initiative to increase the city’s transient occupancy tax (TOT) on short-term rentals like hotels and Airbnb by 3.5%, is on track for approval, with strong voter support shown in preliminary counts.
You can also read it here.
The measure, proposed by the City Council, aims to boost local revenue to address budget shortfalls and fund essential city services, such as street maintenance, emergency preparedness, and park upkeep. The TOT, which currently stands at 12%, will gradually rise to 15.5% by 2026. If approved, the TOT increase is expected to generate an estimated $3.6 million annually, with revenues audited independently and retained for Menlo Park's local needs.
Of course, this does not come without concerns - hotel representatives argued the increase would further strain hotels still recovering from the pandemic downturn.
Matthews, NC
```Matthews has officially revised its short-term rental ordinance to classify rentals under bed-and-breakfast regulations, limiting future operations to room-only rentals within homes, not whole-house arrangements. This change, unanimously approved by the town’s Board of Commissioners, emerged after residents raised concerns about safety and disruptions from short-term rental guests in family neighborhoods. Following the ordinance's approval, some are skeptical:
"...whole-house rentals like his won't be able to open in the future. He said this is a big problem for the future of Matthews' growth. 'The millennial generation of bed and breakfast is here. Do you want it in Matthews?' Goldstein said. He added he expects the town will face litigation after this decision." - WCNC.com
Read the full Unified Development Ordinance here:
Ocean City, MD
Proposed changes to Ocean City’s zoning code would impose new occupancy limits and minimum stay requirements for short-term rentals in single-family and mobile home zoning districts.
Under the new rules, properties in these districts would be limited to two persons per bedroom, plus two additional guests (excluding children 10 and under), with occupancy caps based on the number of bedrooms.
Additionally, the new rules would require a minimum stay of five consecutive days during peak season (May to September) and three days during the off-season. Landlords will also be held accountable for violations with the potential penalty being suspension of license. You can read more about it here: Proposed Rental Revisions.
Further, here's the proposed ordinance:
Public comments can be submitted online or via email (gbendler@oceancitymd.gov).
🗣️ We first talked about this proposed ordinance on this daily note!
Dane Artisola
Waukegan Township, IL
Waukegan officials are considering a new short-term rental ordinance that would require property owners to obtain a license, addressing growing uncertainty as the number of rentals increases.
The city’s proximity to Naval Station Great Lakes, where recruits graduate regularly, has led to a boom in short-term rentals, contributing to local businesses. The proposed rules would mandate that rentals last no less than 48 hours and no more than 30 days, with a maximum of 100 licenses available. Additional requirements include exterior security cameras, off-street parking, and limits on rental density.
🗓️ The Waukegan City Council’s Community Development Committee will continue its discussion of the proposed short-term rental ordinance Dec. 2 at City Hall.
```Read more about it here: Chicago Tribune
Putnam Township, MI
Putnam Township has passed a new ordinance effectively banning short-term rentals in single-family homes and on lakes, requiring operators on platforms like Airbnb and Vrbo to cease new bookings by June 21 and honor existing ones only until Labor Day.
Rentals will be restricted to commercial or agricultural properties, which must meet several requirements, including fire and septic inspections and a registered local contact. Concerns about public safety, noise, and environmental strain drove the ban, with township officials noting that rising investor-owned rentals were pricing locals out of the market.
Read the full ordinance here:
Continue reading the ordinance here.
Every day, we bring you a detailed overview of recent news and updates about primary decisions, community feedback, or legislative changes relevant to the short-term rental industry. ⭐
Track some of the most recent updates on regulatory discussions and proposed changes:
```Check more out in strisker.com! ⭐