Committee hears that short-term rental ordinance has not been implemented; staff to seek legal clarifications

The Building and Housing Committee of the University Heights City Council on Monday was told the city’s short-term rental ordinance has not yet been implemented, and committee members asked staff to gather legal and technical clarifications so the ordinance can be enforced before summer.

Winifred Weiser, chair of the Building and Housing Committee, asked Markell Davis, director of housing and community development, whether any steps had been taken to implement the short-term rental ordinance. Davis replied, “The answer is no,” and said multiple practical questions remain about application processing and system setup.

Davis told the committee CitizenServe, the city’s permitting system, did not have a distinct permit type configured for short-term rentals and that staff had not been instructed to accept applications under a new prefix. She listed outstanding issues that need resolution, including whether housing should review parking drawings, how taxes are calculated and collected, insurance requirements, and whether short-term rentals should be treated as commercial activity.

Chair Weiser directed staff to put the questions in writing to the law director and copy her: “Please put this all in writing to Mister Bridal and cc me, and we will discuss this for sure at the next meeting,” she said. Weiser emphasized the need to resolve these issues before summer and to publicize the permitting process once it is operational.

Brad Bryan, the law director, was identified by the chair as the appropriate official to evaluate ordinance interpretation and to advise on procedural questions. Committee members noted that publicity and active enforcement (including proactive searches for unpermitted short-term listings) will be necessary once the process is live.

The committee asked staff to return with answers at the next meeting so the city can begin permitting and enforcement before summer.