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Town Council continues rental-dwelling registration hearing to Oct. 14 to refine fee structure and short-term/long-term rules
Summary
Council held a public hearing on proposed rental-dwelling registration and fee provisions but continued the hearing to Oct. 14 after discussion about tiered fees, short-term vs. long-term rentals and the need for solicitor guidance.
The Town Council continued a public hearing on proposed amendments to the zoning ordinance related to rental dwellings on Sept. 22, directing staff and the solicitor's office to provide more detailed fee options and legal advice on treatment of short-term rentals.
The draft ordinance presented to the council proposed a $100 registration fee per rental unit. Council members and members of the public raised concerns about equity for owners of multi-unit properties, the administrative burden on staff, and how the town should treat short-term rental operators versus long-term annual landlords.
Options discussed by council and staff included:
- A flat per-unit fee (draft proposal: $100 per unit) ; - A property-level fee with a cap for multi-unit owners; or - A tiered scale (example offered in discussion: 1'4 units = $100; 5'9 units = $200; 10+ units = $300).
Council members suggested alternative tiers, including a lower baseline (for example, $50) for 1'4-unit landlords so year-round owners are not unduly burdened, and higher charges for larger portfolios. Several councilors also said the town should incentivize year-long rentals rather than short-term vacation rentals.
Legal and administrative guidance requested
Solicitor Amy Goins told the council that she would provide formal advice on whether the town may differentiate fees for short-term and long-term rentals, and cautioned that some of her analysis had been provided to the council in attorney-client memoranda. She recommended that the council consider whether to request a confidential legal memo on fee differentiation and enforcement.
Separately, the council noted that the state maintains a short-term-rental registration and that existing state registration may provide some information the town could use; however, the state registration pertains to short-term rentals specifically, not long-term units.
Public comment and next steps
The council heard public comments during the hearing and agreed to continue the matter to its Oct. 14 meeting to allow staff and the solicitor's office to prepare detailed fee options, draft definitions (short-term vs. long-term), and an enforcement framework that the council can act on.
Speakers (selected)
- Amy Goins, Town Solicitor - Council Member Bergner - Council Member (others participated in discussion)
Ending
The public hearing was continued to Oct. 14; staff will present fee options and solicitor guidance in time for that meeting so the council can decide whether to adopt a registration ordinance and the fee structure.
