Council reviews draft short-term rental ordinance; consensus on capacity, lighting rules to be reworked

Two Rivers city council members and staff spent the Feb. 24 work session reviewing a draft omnibus amendment to the city's short-term rental (STR) ordinance, including a proposed capacity definition, new outdoor lighting restrictions, licensing and penalty provisions, and quarterly guest-register reporting.

City Attorney Andrew Adams told the council the draft defines "maximum capacity" as "two individuals for every bedroom plus four" for residential dwelling units offered as short-term rentals. Adams said the definition is limited to units offered as STRs and would not apply to ordinary single-family households. "We added the term maximum capacity... 2 individuals for every bedroom plus 4," he said.

Council members discussed how to treat young children in the capacity calculation. Councilors signaled consensus that children under age 2 would not count toward the stated capacity.

The draft also adds an outdoor-lighting restriction…