Beverly council forms special committee to study short-term rental enforcement and policy

The Beverly City Council voted 8–0 on April 7 to authorize a special committee to examine enforcement and possible amendments to the city’s short-term rental rules.

Councilor Spang, who requested the committee, said the city’s ordinances currently prohibit short-term rentals except in licensed lodging houses but that online platforms show many listings that appear to violate the rule. "The policy has been very difficult to enforce," Spang said, urging an action-oriented group of stakeholders to consider options ranging from stepped-up enforcement to allowing limited owner-occupied short-term rentals.

The committee will be convened by the council president and is expected to include city staff and outside stakeholders. Spang told the committee she had spoken with the fire safety inspector, who was "amenable to this suggestion and agreed to join the committee if it is formed." Councilors said the committee should be small enough to act efficiently while allowing interested stakeholders to attend meetings and provide input.

Councilor Bowen said the committee should invite parties listed in Spang’s letter and broadly publicize a call for interest so residents and landlords can participate. Councilors said they expect the committee to return recommended ordinance changes or an enforcement plan to the full council.

The council rules give the council president authority to appoint members to special committees; councilors indicated they will ask for volunteers and stakeholder nominations once the committee is authorized.

The vote to form the committee on the council floor was 8–0. The committee was previously recommended by the Committee on Public Services.