Douglas County planning commissioners forward VHR ordinance amendments to commissioners after settlement-driven revisions

Douglas County planning commissioners voted 5-0 on Dec. 21, 2021, to forward Ordinance 2021-1591 to the Board of County Commissioners. The ordinance amends Title 20.622 of the Douglas County Code to revise occupancy and permit rules for vacation home rentals (VHRs), adjust enforcement and fines, and grandfather certain multiple-permit holders through Dec. 31, 2031.

The planning commission action came after attorneys and staff described modifications made following litigation and a court-ordered settlement conference. Doug Ritchie, an attorney with the Douglas County District Attorney’s Office, said the changes are intended to address constitutional issues raised in litigation and to incorporate terms from a proposed settlement that the Board of County Commissioners was scheduled to consider on Jan. 6, 2022.

The proposed ordinance makes several substantive changes. It raises the cap on tier 2 and tier 3 VHR permits from 600 to 650; clarifies occupancy limits by moving from a formula of “2 per bedroom plus 4” to a compromise of “2 per bedroom plus 2” (for example, a three-bedroom home would have a maximum occupancy of eight); requires VHR permit holders to carry liability…