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Augusta commissioners direct staff to schedule work session on short-term rental rules
Summary
After months of review, staff presented two short-term rental models — a strict 14-day owner-occupied limit and a moderate 30-day option that includes military exemptions — and the commission asked the short-term rental subcommittee to schedule a workshop to draft ordinance language.
Augusta commissioners asked staff to schedule a workshop to further develop an ordinance regulating short-term rentals after hearing two draft models that ranged from a strict preservation-focused approach to a more moderate regulatory framework.
Mayor Garnett Johnson introduced the item and said the goal was to “protect the sanctity of neighborhoods, but also allow those who like to rent their homes” to do so. Director Carla Delaney reviewed two options: a preservation approach that would limit owner-occupied rentals in single-family residential zones to 14 days per year and prohibit rental-use events, and a moderate approach that would allow up to 30 rental days per year in residential zones while adding provisions for military personnel on temporary duty and requiring registration and property-manager response rules.
Delaney said option 1 would require registration with the business license process, limit short-term rental activity to owner-occupied primary dwelling units, cap rentals at 14 days a year, prohibit events such as weddings or corporate gatherings, and require all parking be off-street. Option 2 would allow a 30-day per year limit in residential zones, preserve registration and tax compliance, permit owner-occupied rentals to remain limited to 14 days, and include a provision to consider temporary duty (TDY) military exemptions; both options would require a property manager to be able to be on-site within two hours to respond to complaints.
Commissioners asked about hospitality houses and event-season exceptions (for example, Masters week), and staff advised that a separate hospitality-house provision could be added if the commission wanted a targeted exception. Commissioner Tina Slendak asked that rental of backyard amenities such as pools and outdoor kitchens be covered in both options; staff agreed it could be added.
Commissioner Catherine Pulliam and others recommended additional community outreach and time for the Historic Preservation Commission and new HPC appointees to weigh in on any appeal changes before finalizing rules. Commissioners agreed to refer the topic to the short-term rental subcommittee and schedule a workshop to refine definitions, enforcement, and the preferred regulatory approach.
The item will return to the commission after the subcommittee workshop; staff framed the two options as a starting point for detailed ordinance drafting.
