11-13-2017 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

AGENDA ITEM Item No.: 16 Date: November 13, 2017 Item Description: #17-3984 — City of Orono Text Amendment: Rental Licensing, Vacation Rental Prohibition Presenter: Jeremy Barnhart, Community Agenda Public Hearing Development Director Section: 1. Purpose. The purpose of this action item is to gather public comment from residents relative to possible changes to the City Code that would require licensing for rental properties, and to require a minimum 30 day rental term. 2. Minnesota Statutes 15.99 Deadline. Not Applicable 3. Background/ Summary. At its meeting on October 9th, 2017, the council directed staff to move forward on developing an ordinance to regulate short term rentals, and to also review potential to develop an ordinance that would require rental licensing. The Council agreed that a listening session should occur prior to adopting a final version of any regulations. There are two main questions to be addressed as understood by staff. Question 1: Should the city require licenses or similar city oversight in the rental of residential units? The Met Council estimates there are approximately 400 rental properties in Orono (15% of all households). Typically, a rental licensing program is established to address concerns with overcrowding or substandard housing, and a licensing program requires inspections periodically, ranging from every year to every 5 years. Staff is unaware of a life safety concern relative to overcrowding or substandard housing. Question 2. Should the City regulate short term rentals, i.e. rentals for a period of time less than 30 days? The Council has a number of options in which to proceed: a. Prohibit short term rentals, as Greenwood and Shorewood and other cities have done. b. Require City Council approval of short term rentals, or they can have a tiered approval system as Prior Lake and Stillwater have done. c. Require some documentation, a permit or license that facilitates rapid response to complaints, as was proposed in 2015 as Plymouth does. d. Do nothing, determining that current regulations adequately address noise, traffic, and parking, as Minnetonka does. 4. Public Comment. Postcards were mailed to 16 property owners notifying them of the meeting, inviting comment. Do date, staff has received comment from two property owners; this email correspondence is attached. 5. Staff Recommendation. Staff recommends receiving feedback, and directing staff to address specific concerns in an ordinance. COUNCIL ACTION REQUESTED Receive public comment, and direct, by motion, staff to amend city code as appropriate. Exhibits Exhibit A. Public comment received Exhibit B. Mailing list Prepared By: J. Barnhart Reviewed By: -Sb)R Approved By: -TV