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Richmond Heights mayor urges opposition to SB 104; council adopts resolution
Summary
At its March 25 Committee of the Whole meeting, the Richmond Heights City Council approved a consent-item resolution opposing Senate Bill 104, which would limit local control over short-term rentals. Mayor Kim Thomas's written testimony to the Ohio Senate's local government committee was read into the record.
The Richmond Heights City Council on March 25 approved a resolution opposing Senate Bill 104, which the mayor and council said would restrict municipalities' ability to regulate short-term residential rentals.
Mayor Kim Thomas submitted written testimony to the Ohio Senate's Local Government Committee arguing the proposal would “represent a clear violation of our municipal home rule authority.” Thomas wrote that local governments are “best positioned to determine what is in the best interest of their communities and their citizens,” and cited noise, parking and security problems associated with unregulated short-term rentals.
Thomas said residents had reported “increased noise disturbances leading to excessive noise, parking issues, and disruptive parties, resulting in additional calls to our police department.” She added that some short-term rental properties “often operate more like hotels than part of our residential fabric” and that the influx of such rentals has “raised serious security concerns.”
Council Member Lehi expanded on local experience, saying that in the summer of 2023 the city had “at least three short-term rentals, two of which caused major problems,” including weekend parties, repeated police responses, littering and parking problems that made residents feel threatened. Lehi said neighboring city law directors had contacted Richmond Heights about its local approach and that Richmond Heights had moved earlier to prohibit certain short-term rentals.
A speaker at the meeting noted that a separate, related bill—referred to in the meeting as House Bill 104—was not advancing in committee at present.
The resolution was approved on the consent agenda. The motion to approve the consent agenda was moved and seconded and recorded as passing with affirmative votes from Council Members Jordan, Justice, Lewis, Nelson, Robinson, Ursu and Lehi.
The mayor's written testimony was presented as part of the meeting record and will accompany the city's formal opposition to the state-level proposal.
