🎯 STRisker: Bulletin - Avon Lake, OH

Avon Lake Hits Pause on New STRs – Time to Set the Ground Rules

If you’re thinking of turning your Avon Lake home into a short-term rental, hold that thought. The city just hit the pause button.

A 90-day moratorium on new short-term rental (STR) registrations is now in place, giving city officials time to craft official rules for this booming yet hotly debated practice. While current STR operators are safe for now, they’ll be subject to whatever regulations eventually roll out.

Why the sudden freeze? It’s not so sudden, actually. Council members have been hearing rumblings from homeowners for months—complaints about noise, late-night parties, and fears about losing that tight-knit neighborhood vibe. That feedback lit the fire under an ad hoc committee formed nearly a year ago, led by Councilmember Zach Arnold with fellow members Amy Gentry and Dave Kos.

“We’re seeing what’s happening in other towns—STRs popping up without enough oversight,” said Kos, who emphasized that this isn’t a ban, just a breather. “We want to get ahead of any issues before they start affecting the quality of life in our neighborhoods.”

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Trying to keep up with the main players in the STR game? Know your councilmembers, commissioners, committee chairs, and key staff that are part of the process.

Council is currently working from a framework draft, but nothing official has been introduced yet. The expectation is that a formal ordinance will come to the table once the council resumes regular meetings after summer break. And yes, there will be three full public readings so residents will have plenty of chances to weigh in.

Kos underscored the city’s aim: balance.

“We’re not trying to block people from using their homes the way they want,” he said. “But if you’ve got multiple STRs on one block, that changes the nature of a neighborhood.”

The upcoming legislation is expected to address safety standards, zoning saturation, and basic operating guidelines—comparable to those for hotels. Think fire extinguishers, emergency exits, and yes, running water.

Currently, Avon Lake has fewer than 20 registered STRs. That number may not seem high, but officials want to ensure that growth doesn’t spiral without structure.

In the meantime, anyone hoping to join the STR scene will need to wait it out—or at least tune in when city council picks this back up in the fall. One thing’s clear: Avon Lake isn’t slamming the door on short-term rentals—it’s just making sure the hinges are solid before it swings wide open.

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