Hocking County planners present non‑zoning options after short‑term rental survey, schedule township meetings

Consultants working with Hocking County presented survey results and stakeholder feedback on short‑term rentals and zoning options and proposed a series of regulatory steps the county could take short of formal zoning.

David Beard, a consultant with American Construction Point, told the county zoning commission that the county’s online survey drew “over 400 responses” and that “68% of the respondents want zoning to slow the growth of short term rentals.” Beard said the responses were concentrated in the county’s most populous areas and that some concerns voiced by residents — for example, bright exterior lighting or driveway access — may be solvable through targeted standards rather than a full zoning code.

Beard said the project team is recommending several near‑term regulatory tools that do not require the legal process for zoning under Ohio law, including a mandatory 24‑hour contact for each short‑term rental, a more robust registration or permit process, special‑event permits, clearer site‑standards for ingress/egress and lighting, defined property‑maintenance enforcement, and consideration of impact fees tied to infrastructure costs. He described the current short‑term rental registration as “a…