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Owner-occupied hosts urge amendment as council advances short-term rental cap
Summary
Annapolis residents urged the council to add an amendment preserving access to short-term rental (STR) licenses for owner-occupied hosts as the council placed O17-25 (a block-face cap) on first reader and assigned it to Rules and Economic Matters.
The council placed an ordinance (O17-25) limiting short-term rentals on the agenda, waived a rules requirement, and advanced the bill on first reader on June 16. Public comment from owner-occupied hosts urged an amendment (referred to in testimony as “amendment 2”) that would exempt owner-occupied hosts from the cap.
Why it matters: O17-25 would cap STRs at 10% per block face, which proponents say will reduce the proliferation of whole-home rentals. Owner-occupied hosts and community advocates warn a strict cap could block residents who rely on occasional rental income and urged a carve-out for owner-occupied rooms.
Public testimony and council action Susan Margulies (testifying as an owner-occupied host) said that while the ordinance’s goal to curb whole-home rentals is understandable, the current draft would prevent many long-term owner-occupied hosts from obtaining a license. She asked specifically that Amendment 2 be added so owner-occupied hosts can remain eligible to rent rooms if they later need the income. Margulies cited data presented to the council that, in the city’s inventory, 92% of STRs are non-owner-occupied whole-home rentals.
The council unanimously waived a requirement for a fiscal-impact report so the STR measure could be placed on the agenda and then approved O17-25 on first reading. The Rules Committee will also consider the ordinance; Council members asked that written testimony be submitted to create a formal record for the Rules Committee and the public hearing.
Next steps The mayor and council assigned O17-25 to Rules and to Economic Matters for further committee review and public hearings. Proponents and opponents will have the opportunity to submit written testimony prior to committee consideration and the ordinance’s next reading.
Ending: The council advanced the short-term-rental ordinance with instruction to committees to consider amendments, including a proposed owner-occupied host exemption.
