Bellbrook council to require registration and permitting for short‑term rentals, declines lodging‑tax pursuit

The Bellbrook City Council on Sept. 22 directed staff to develop a registration and permitting process for short‑term rentals (STRs) in the city and decided not to pursue immediate collection of a lodging tax on those rentals.

City staff told council that research identified roughly six STR listings in Bellbrook tied to two primary hosts; staff estimated average annual income per listing at about $9,000 and a total tax base on current listings of roughly $54,000. Staff said collecting a local lodging tax (for example a percentage remittance) would likely cost more to administer and police than the revenue it would generate.

Councilmembers said registration would make it easier to contact an owner quickly when neighbors complain about noise, parking or other nuisance issues. The council discussed maintaining the 25‑day definition for long‑term occupancy but adding a registration requirement and penalties (zoning violation) for operating without a permit. One council member proposed limiting STRs to business districts or multifamily zones as an alternative; others favored keeping single‑family residential rules unchanged but requiring registration.

Council asked staff to prepare ordinance language that adds a registration requirement, sets enforcement as a zoning violation and provides a permitting/remittance form that can be submitted online. The administration said the police could enforce parking and noise complaints under existing ordinances; registration would help identify repeat offenders and allow staff to suspend permits if owners repeatedly violated rules.

City staff will bring an ordinance introduction at the next council meeting addressing registration and permitting; council declined at this time to pursue a municipal lodging‑tax collection on STR revenue.

Council members said registration will provide data on actual STR use and enable targeted enforcement if complaints continue.