Council tightens short-term/home rental rules, adds registry and higher fines

The Common Council approved amendments to the citys home-rental ordinance on Oct. 20 after the measure returned from committee with additional enforcement provisions and clarifying language.

Benjamin Lake, city attorney, summarized the principal changes. The ordinance updates registration requirements for short-term and home rentals to disqualify applicants who have three civil judgments related to rental operation or one or more qualifying criminal convictions, requires disclosure of pending matters, and provides the city with revocation authority when false or misleading information is provided during registration. "This is all about making sure it's the right person that is able to register," Lake said.

Enforcement provisions were strengthened: owners who advertise a rental without registering may now be cited based on the advertisement alone; each day a rental is let without a permit constitutes a separate violation. The amendment established an initial fine figure referenced in the ordinance and a daily penalty structure: the text discussed an initial fine of $22,500 and a $1,000-per-day fine for letting a rental without a permit (language in the ordinance packet sets the initial fine and daily penalties as written in the city code amendment).

The council voted to move the amended ordinance and then to adopt the amendments; the amended ordinance passed on the council floor. The amendment includes an appeal right at both denial and revocation stages to the Board of Public Works and Safety.

Ending: The ordinance returned to the code with new enforcement tools and an appeals pathway; staff said the changes are intended to make registration and enforcement feasible and to address bad actors who operate rentals without oversight.