The purpose of this section is to establish regulations for the use of privately owned residential dwellings as short-term rentals that ensure basic health and safety to renters and neighbors and minimize the negative secondary effects of such use on surrounding residential neighborhoods and/or governmental services.
(A) Short-term rental business license - required. The owner or his or her authorized agent is required to obtain a short-term rental business license from the county, pursuant to the provisions of this section and §§ 114.15 through 114.18, respectively, before renting any privately owned residential dwelling to any transient for a period less than a monthly basis. A short-term rental business license shall be required to be renewed yearly and due before January 1 each year in order to remain valid.
(B) Application. An application shall contain the following information:
(1) The location of the short-term rental;
(2) The number of rooms within the dwelling;
(3) The number of persons the short-term rental will accommodate;
(4) The name of a property manager;
(5) The name, address and telephone number of a local responsible party who is available by telephone 24 hours per day;
(6) A sales tax collection and accounting number;
(7) The application shall include a statement by the applicant affirming that the applicant is currently in compliance with all legal requirements and has paid all applicable taxes, fees and other charges; and
(8) Completed application from the county for a short-term business license, signed by the owner or his or her authorized agent. All fees associated with short-term business licenses are paid.
(C) Short-term rental standards. Short-term rentals are subject to the following standards:
(1) One operable fire extinguisher;
(2) One operable smoke detector in each bedroom, in the major living areas and on each floor (the major living area can count for the detector on that floor);
(3) An operable carbon monoxide detector on each floor installed per the manufacturer’s specifications, when gas appliances are utilized in the structure;
(4) A posted map showing property boundaries, parking spaces, emergency exits and local emergency contact numbers; and
(5) Parking associated with a short-term rental shall be provided on the subject property. Street parking immediately in front of the short-term rental property may be considered on the subject property.
(D) Additional requirements.
(1) General practice. The operator shall ensure that the short-term rental is used in a manner that complies with all applicable laws, rules and regulations pertaining to the use and occupancy of the subject short-term rental unit and business regulations generally.
(2) Noises and nuisances. Occupants of the short-term rental shall comply with the standards and regulations of the county code related to noises and nuisances.
(3) Renter notification. The operator shall provide the occupant(s) of the short-term rental with the following information prior to occupancy of the rental and shall post such information in a prominent location within the rental unit:
(a) Operator name and local emergency contact information;
(b) Trash pick-up day and applicable rules and regulations pertaining to leaving or storing trash on the exterior of the property; and
(c) Notification that the occupant and/or owner may be cited or fined by the county if in violation with this chapter.
(4) Operator availability. While a short-term rental unit is rented, the operator shall be available within an hour, in person or electronically, for the purpose of responding to complaints regarding the condition, operation or conduct of occupants of the short-term rental or their guests.
(5) Operator responsibility for guest’s conduct. The operator and/or the designated local contact person shall ensure that the occupants and/or guests of the short-term rental do not create unreasonable noise or disturbances, engage in disorderly conduct or violate any applicable law, rule or regulation pertaining to the use and occupancy of the subject short-term rental.
(6) Operator response to complaint. The operator and/or the designated local contact person shall, upon notification that any occupant and/or guest of the short-term rental has created unreasonable noise or disturbances, engaged in disorderly conduct or committed violations of any applicable law, rule or regulation pertaining to the use and occupancy of the subject short-term unit, promptly respond to, immediately halt or prevent a recurrence of such conduct by the occupant(s) and/or guest(s). Failure of the owner and/or operator to respond to calls or complaints within an hour regarding the condition, operation or conduct of occupants and/or guests of the short-term rental, the owner and/or operator may be subject to all administrative, legal and equitable remedies available to the county.
(7) Trash and refuse. Trash and refuse shall not be left stored within public view, except in proper containers for the purpose of collection by the county’s authorized waste hauler on scheduled trash collection days.
(8) License posted. The operator shall post a copy of the short-term rental business license in a conspicuous place within the short-term rental.
(F) Appeals. Any person or entity aggrieved by a decision in the enforcement and/or administration of this section shall have the right to appeal such decision to the Board of Adjustments, if a written request for an appeal is filed with the Zoning Administrator within 30 days of verification that the aggrieved person or entity has been made aware of the decision.
(Ord. 2024-5-3, passed 5-13-2024) Penalty, see § 154.999