Local officials, tourism groups tell Senate committee to preserve home rule on short‑term rentals

At a hearing before the Senate Local Government Committee, municipal leaders, township officials, tourism groups and convention‑and‑visitors bureaus testified in opposition to Senate Bill 104, arguing the bill would strip local governments of longstanding zoning and public‑safety tools for managing short‑term rentals.

The testimony came during the committee’s third hearing on SB 104. Witnesses repeatedly said they support two elements of the bill — a registration requirement and platform collection of lodging taxes — but said the bill’s sweeping preemption of local zoning and regulation would prevent municipalities and townships from addressing noise, safety, septic and housing‑stock problems that vary by community.

Bevin Schneck, Director of Public Affairs at the Ohio Municipal League, told the committee the League represents more than 730 cities and villages and “seeks to preserve the Municipal Home Rule authority found in Article XVIII of the Ohio Constitution.” Schneck said the League opposes statewide preemption that would prevent municipalities from deciding whether and how to regulate short‑term rentals.

Kyle Brooks, director of governmental affairs for the Ohio Township Association, said SB 104 “would…