St. Joseph council adopts short-term rental rules, sets licensing fees

The St. Joseph City Council on Feb. 18 adopted a final ordinance amending local rules for short-term rentals and approved associated licensing fees and summary publications.

City staff presented the final draft ordinance and a separate fee schedule tied to the new short-term rental licensing process. Staff said the ordinance clarifies the definition of "owner occupied" by specifying a principal residence as a dwelling the owner occupies at least 183 days a year and sets where short-term rentals are allowed by zoning and what approvals are required.

The ordinance requires short-term rentals in most residential and agricultural districts to obtain a conditional use permit (which involves a planning commission public hearing and council approval) followed by a short-term rental license and inspection. In commercial districts the rules differ: if short-term rental activity is secondary to an existing commercial use, only a rental license and inspection are required; if the property’s primary use will be short-term rental, it must obtain a conditional use permit and then the license and inspection. Staff described this approach as consistent with how the city treats hotels and motels in commercial zones.

The ordi…