Results from the Short-Term Rentals Online Open House were all over the map. Some opposed licensing requirements: others supported the requirements. Some said short-term rentals should not be allowed at all. In addition, some said that one or more of the proposed requirements were too strict. Others said they were too lenient.
About respondents:
- 112 (34%) live near a short-term rental
- 31 (10%) own/operate a short-term rental
- 183 (56%) neither live near nor operate a short-term rental
Responses to Questions:
- 1. How well will the proposed short-term rental requirements address community concerns? 1=Not Very well; 5=Very well.
1 = 99 (30%)
2 = 51 (16%)
3 = 65 (20%)
4 = 72 (22%)
5 = 39 (12%)- 2. How do you think the proposed requirements can be improved? (Open-ended question available to those who selected 1 or 2 in Question 1.) Responses included:
- Short-term rentals should be allowed without licensing requirements
- Proposed requirements are too strict
- Proposed requirements are not strict enough
- Short-term rentals should not be allowed
- 3. How many on-site parking spaces do you think should be required for short-term rentals?
- None = 78 (24%)
- One = 50 (15%)
- Base the number on the approved number of occupants = 198 (61%)
- 4. If a property has both a single-family house and an additional dwelling, should both be allowed to be licensed as short-term rentals?
- Yes = 196 (60%)
- No = 130 (40%)
- 5. Please share additional comments. (Open ended; themes are as follows)
- Short-term rentals should be allowed without a license = 40. Opinions included:
- Government overreach infringing on property owners’ rights
- License represents an unnecessary tax
- No need for licensing; the problem is lack of enforcement of noise, solid waste and parking ordinances
- Regulations should be the same for short-term rentals as for long-term rentals
- Regulations and enforcement should focus on more serious problems and violations
- Rural short-term rentals should be allowed = 68. Opinions included:
- They are unlikely to cause issues in neighborhoods, as neighbors are more distant
- They encourage rural tourism and support local businesses
- Making a living through farming is difficult. Rural short-term rental income helps
- Allows retirees on small, fixed incomes to earn enough to stay in their homes
- Proposed requirements are too strict = 45. Opinions included:
- Do not limit to just legal permanent dwellings; non-dwelling structures and temporary structures and vehicles (e.g., yurts, RVs, tiny homes on wheels and converted barns/sheds) should also be allowed
- Proposed maximum occupancy limit is too strict
- Notification requirement to neighboring properties within 300 feet is excessive
- Regulations should be limited; license fees should be modest to support small business
- Proposed short-term rental license requirements are not strict enough = 49. Opinions included:
- Health-and-safety requirements should be more stringent
- Proposed maximum occupancy limit is too generous, should include a maximum occupancy cap
- "Whole-house" rentals should be prohibited
- Add limits on the number of bedrooms that can be rented
- Add limits on the number of short-term rentals per block
- Add limits on the number of licenses issued
- Add limits on the number of nights that can be rented per month or per year
- Require County inspection
- Require owner occupancy of short-term rentals
- Require minimum tenancy of a month or longer
- Proposed requirements won’t help with daytime noise impacts
- Proposed requirements won’t help with garbage and litter that isn’t in trash cans
- Short-term rentals should not be allowed = 17. Opinions included:
- Negatively impact housing affordability and accessibility
- Are commercial uses in residential neighborhoods; should only be allowed in commercial land use districts
- Lower property values
- Concerns about short-term rental enforcement and revocation = 14. Opinions included:
- What license enforcement and revocation mechanisms will be put in place?
- Enforcement will be key to making regulations effective; adding more regulations won’t solve anything without enforcement
- The County needs to have a well-staffed short-term rental enforcement team
- What is the County’s plan for dealing with a short-term rental owner who continues to rent even though his license has been revoked?
- Short-term rentals should be allowed without a license = 40. Opinions included: