The City Council will meet on October 8, 2024, to consider the first reading of Ordinance 841, which proposes the addition of short-term rentals to Chapter 815, Rental Dwelling Licenses. The proposed ordinance, prepared by Planning Consultant Eric Zweber and reviewed by City Manager Jeffrey Dahl, would subject short-term rental properties to the same licensing requirements as other rental dwellings, with a few exceptions.
The ordinance comes in response to the growing presence of short-term rentals in the city. According to city staff research, about 18 properties have been used as short-term rentals recently. If approved, the new regulations would take effect on January 1, 2025, with applications for licenses due by April 1, 2025.
The proposed ordinance would require short-term rental owners to pay an application fee of $110 starting in 2025, the same fee as single-family residential rental licenses. This fee is intended to cover administrative costs.
Short-term rental owners would be exempt from conducting criminal background checks on tenants and would not need to include “Crime-Free/Drug-Free and Disorderly Conduct” language in lease agreements, which are requirements for long-term rentals.
City staff has recommended approval of the ordinance, citing its alignment with the city’s strategic plan to “Sustain Community Character & Safety.” By regulating short-term rentals, the city aims to preserve the safety and character of its neighborhoods.
Should the ordinance pass, the city plans to hold engagement sessions and surveys to gather feedback from both short-term rental property owners and residents. A follow-up workshop is scheduled for early 2025 to review the licensing process and consider additional amendments.
For now, the City Council will review and vote on the first reading of the ordinance during the October 8 meeting.
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