(a) It is the purpose of this regulation to protect and promote the health, safety, and general welfare of all the citizens of the City of Louisville, Ohio by requiring the registration and certification of short term rentals within the City. It is also the intent to protect the integrity of residential neighborhoods while allowing property owners to receive remuneration from short term rental of a dwelling to help maintain the dwelling.
Short term rental properties located in a residential district shall be owner occupied. No person shall cause, allow or maintain the use of a short term rental in a residential district without first having obtained a conditional use permit from the Planning Commission. Application for a conditional use permit shall be submitted to the zoning inspector and forwarded to the Planning Commission in accordance with Chapter 1133, Conditional Use Review.
All short term rentals shall meet the following requirements:
(1) Permit Required. A permit is required prior to the rental of any residential dwelling to be rented for a period of thirty (30) days or less.
A. A permit issued by the City shall be valid for a period of one (1) year or until the dwelling is sold.
B. A permit will be issued by the City of Louisville within thirty (30) days of receipt of Planning Commission's approval, and a completed application.
C. The permit shall indicate the maximum number of guests that can be accommodated at the rental in accordance with the standards listed in this Section 1157.35 Short Term Rental Standards - Capacity Limit.
D. A permit and permit holder shall be subject to all of the standards and penalties of the zoning resolution.
(2) Application. An application provided by the City for a short term rental permit shall include the following at a minimum:
A. Address of property.
B. Property owner name(s).
C. Signature of property owner(s) and caretaker(s).
D. Contact information including: name, address and 24-hour contact phone number for the owner of the property and caretaker.
i. This information must be kept up to date in the City's records.
ii. It is the permit holder's responsibility to inform the City of any change in caretaker or contact information for the permit holder or caretaker.
E. Number of bedrooms in the dwelling.
F. Sleeping capacity.
G. Number of parking spaces.
(3) Site plan. A site plan of the property including location of the dwelling, location and number of smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, driveway or other point of access to the property, designated parking and points of entry into the dwelling.
(b) Short Term Rental Standards. All short term rentals shall comply with the following standards:
(1) Parking.
A. Parking for short term renters in a short term rental shall only be in identified parking spaces as defined. Any on-street parking identified for the short term rental in a residential district will need to be identified on the site plan and approved by the Planning Commission.
(2) Trash.
A. Refuse and recyclables shall be stored in appropriate containers with tight fitting lids and shall be regularly picked up by a licensed waste hauler.
(3) Special Events.
A. Special events hosted at the short term rental property, such as a wedding, outdoor party, family reunion or similar gathering that exceeds the maximum number of short term renters allowed under the short term rental permit, are not permitted at a short term rental property.
(4) Capacity Limit.
A. The maximum number of short term renters to be accommodated shall be equal to the number of bedrooms multiplied by a factor of two (2) plus one additional person. The number of bedrooms shall be as certified by the applicant.
i. The permit issued by the City shall indicate the maximum number of short term renters that may be accommodated as calculated under these standards.
(5) Contact.
A. If the permit holder is away during a short term rental a caretaker representing the property owner must be available by telephone at all times and must be physically located within a fifty (50) mile radius of the property in the event of an emergency or an issue that requires immediate attention.
(6) Permit Number.
A. The short term rental permit number issued by the City shall be:
i. Included in any advertisement for the short term rental.
ii. Posted in a location visible from the street or road serving the property.
(7) Signs.
A. A sign may be permitted in all B districts but requires a zoning certification and is subject to the requirements of Chapter 1160 Sign Regulations.
(8) Insurance.
A. The owner of the short term rental is required to have short term rental insurance and must provide proof of insurance.
(9) Compliance.
A. Must be compliant with all applicable building, electrical and fire codes.
(c) Short Term Rental Violations. Any of the following will be considered a violation of the Louisville Zoning provisions pertaining to short term rentals:
(1) Violations.
A. Failure to update information with the City such as the caretaker's or owner's contact information in a timely manner.
B. Advertising a short term rental for a capacity in excess of that allowed under the permit issued by the City.
C. Failure of the permit holder or his/her designated caretaker to be available at any time during the tenure of an active short term rental.
D. Providing false or misleading information on the application for a short term rental permit.
E. Failure to comply with any of the standards under Section 1157.35(b) Short Term Rental Standards.
(2) Revocation.
A. The City may revoke a short term rental permit following two separate violations on the same property under the same ownership within any single calendar year. The property owner may reapply for a permit the following calendar year and receive a short term rental permit if all violations have been resolved.
(Ord. 20-26. Passed 6-15-20.)