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Council adopts zoning change to allow vacation-rental units in PA and PAR districts
Summary
Carbondale’s City Council adopted a text amendment to Title 15 of the Carbondale Revised Code permitting vacation‑rental units in PA (Professional Administrative) and PAR (Professional Administrative‑Residential) zoning districts after the planning commission’s unanimous recommendation.
The City Council adopted an ordinance amending Title 15 of the Carbondale Revised Code to permit vacation-rental units (VRUs) in PA and PAR zoning districts. The planning commission unanimously recommended the text change. Council members discussed the narrow geographic reach of the amendment and potential impacts on the housing market.
Council member Lowes expressed reservations about the policy’s effects on long-term housing supply and said he was only “barely” in favor, urging caution. The council nevertheless approved the ordinance on a roll-call vote with unanimous support.
Why it matters: The change expands where commercial short-term rentals may operate and is intended by staff to be one tool to boost housing-market supply and quality in the affected zones. Opponents of broad VRU expansion argue such allowances can increase housing costs; supporters said the ordinance is geographically limited to institutional/office‑adjacent districts rather than general residential zones.
Next steps: City staff will update the municipal code and zoning maps and issue guidance to applicants about permitting and compliance.
