🎯 STRisker: Bulletin - Jersey County, IL
Jersey County Adds Fees and Taxes to Short‑Term Rentals: Board approves $100 permit fee and 5% hotel tax, aligning with state law
Board Approves Permit Fee and Hotel Tax for Short‑Term Rentals
Photo by nextdoor.com
The Jersey County Board has approved two significant changes to its Tourism Ordinance that will directly affect short‑term rentals (STRs) such as Airbnb.
At a meeting, the board voted to:
- Establish a $100 permit/registration fee for new hotel/motel STRs beginning July 1, 2026. Existing businesses are exempt.
- Apply a 5% hotel/motel tax to STRs, aligning them with traditional hotels and motels.
The permit fee passed by a 9‑3 vote, while the tax change passed 11‑1. Vice‑Chair Kara Ontis explained that the fee is administrative, requiring operators to register their business and location. Chairman Mark Wagner noted the change follows practices already in place in Grafton and Jerseyville.
Steve Whitworth
🏠Housing & Enforcement
The new permit fee is intended to improve oversight by requiring STR operators to formally register with the county. Wagner explained: “They have to come in, let us know their business and the location, or number of locations, it could be multiple locations.”
The ordinance also clarifies language to avoid double taxation. Businesses in communities like Grafton that already collect tourism taxes will be excluded from county collection.
🎤 Community Feedback
Board member Jeremy Beasley strongly opposed both measures, arguing they unfairly burden property owners. “It doesn’t seem good to be charging people a registration fee just so we can tax them,” Beasley said. He added that he would prefer the state force counties to implement the tax rather than boards adopting it voluntarily.
Other members defended the changes as necessary for consistency and fairness. Ontis emphasized that the county is simply following the State of Illinois, which as of July 1, 2025, included STRs in the statewide hotel/motel tax. “It’s following in suit with what the State of Illinois put in place,” she said.
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🕴️Board & Leadership Response
Chairman Wagner said the changes bring Jersey County in line with state law and neighboring municipalities. He emphasized that the permit fee is modest and administrative, not punitive.
Ontis added that the tax ensures STRs contribute fairly to tourism funding, just as hotels and motels do. “This is about equity across the lodging industry,” she said.
Beasley, however, criticized the board for adding new fees and taxes despite its Republican majority. “We’re sitting here with 12 republicans on the board that are supposed to be opposed to taxes and here we are putting in new fees and new taxes,” he said.
đź“Ś Regional Context
Illinois has moved to standardize STR taxation statewide. The inclusion of STRs in the hotel/motel tax reflects growing recognition of their impact on tourism and local economies.
Neighboring communities like Grafton and Jerseyville already require STR registration and collect hotel taxes. Jersey County’s changes align with these practices, ensuring consistency across the region.
➡️Looking Ahead
The permit fee will take effect July 1, 2026, applying only to new STR businesses. The 5% tax will begin sooner, following the state’s July 1, 2025 inclusion of STRs in the hotel/motel tax.
County leaders say the changes will improve oversight, generate tourism revenue, and align Jersey County with state law and neighboring municipalities. Opponents remain skeptical, warning of unnecessary burdens on property owners.
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