City staff propose third‑party pilot and code clean‑ups to tighten short‑term rental enforcement

City staff told the Arvada City Council on Feb. 10 that short‑term rentals present an enforcement challenge and recommended a one‑year pilot using a third‑party vendor to improve complaint response and identify unlicensed listings.

Why it matters: Staff said the city has about 250–300 licensed short‑term rentals, but monitoring of marketplace listings suggests about 800–900 properties are operating without a city license. Complaints about STRs constitute a small share of code‑enforcement caseloads but can generate intense neighborhood friction, especially when properties are used for late‑night gatherings or appear repeatedly in neighborhood complaints.

What staff proposed: Gabriella Balmer, director of human resources (presenting personnel items earlier in the meeting), and Roslyn Thompson, principal planner, and code‑enforcement staff described the proposal. Jessica Garner, presenting the STR overview, said the pilot would cost roughly $18,000 for 12 months, with…