For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
ADJACENT AND CONTIGUOUS PROPERTY OWNERS. Those properties which are immediately adjacent, that is, actually touch upon the land of the owner of the transient vacation rental unit, and those properties located across or adjacent to a roadway, tributary waterway, easement, or right-of-way which touches upon the land of the owner of the transient vacation rental unit.
BEAR PROOF ENCLOSURE. A type of enclosure designed for the storage of trash containers between collection times that prevents access to garbage by bears and wildlife. It should be an enclosed structure containing four walls and a roof, with 1 side accommodating a door. The latching device must be of sufficient strength and design as to prevent access by bears and wildlife.
BEAR PROOF TRASH CONTAINER. A fully enclosed container with a lid that is inaccessible to bears and wildlife. The lid must fit tightly and have a latching mechanism of sufficient strength and design as to prevent access by bears and wildlife. Any container overfilled so as to prevent latching is not a bear proof container.
DWELLING UNIT. A dwelling or portion thereof providing complete living facilities for 1 family limited to not more than 8 bedrooms except as in “single family dwelling unit”; provided, however, that the term DWELLING UNIT shall not be deemed to include transient vacation rental units, rooming, boarding or lodging houses or hotels, motels, tourist homes or other similar places offering overnight accommodations for transients.
OWNER. All the titled owners, including but not limited to corporations, partnerships and all beneficiaries of property held in trust of the real property comprising the transient vacation rental unit as well as any contract purchaser of the transient vacation rental unit.
OWNER'S AGENT. The individual, firm, or organization appointed, in writing, to act for and on behalf of the owner in respect to the owner's duties and obligations under the terms of this chapter.
SINGLE FAMILY DWELLING UNIT. A dwelling unit commonly known as a single family house designed for and occupied exclusively as a private residence from ground to roof, open on all sides, and not available or used for transient vacation rental. The single family dwelling shall be limited to not more than 8 bedrooms unless the holder(s) of record title to the property for which the application is made executes a binding covenant running with the land in favor of adjoining land owners and/or the Garrett County, Maryland, recorded among the land records of Garrett County, Maryland limiting the use of the dwelling to prohibit transient vacation rental of the property.
TRANSIENT VACATION RENTAL UNIT. A building offering complete living facilities under 1 roof provided that a maximum of 8 bedrooms (unless a greater number of bedrooms lawfully existed prior to August 5, 2003) and a maximum occupancy of 2 persons per bedroom plus four additional persons will be permitted on the property and that the living facilities are rented on the basis of a 14-day period or less to guests. All living facilities must be incorporated into the principal structure and no living quarters may be installed in accessory buildings, unless such quarters lawfully existed prior to August 5, 2003.
(Ord. 2006-7, passed 3-1-2006)