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Council sends short-term rental ordinance to second reading after split vote on suspending rules
Summary
Council considered Ordinance 25-O-088 to repeal the city's short-term rental ban and replace Chapter 7.52 with a licensing scheme that caps permits per ward and adds annual inspections; public comment favored regulated rentals, and a motion to suspend the rules failed (5–2), moving the ordinance to second reading.
The Mentor City Council considered Ordinance 25-O-088 on Sept. 16, a proposed repeal and replacement of Chapter 7.52 of the codified ordinances to allow regulated short-term rentals in defined residential districts.
Law director Joe explained that the current Chapter 7.52 completely prohibits short-term rentals and that the Planning Commission recommended replacing it with a new chapter establishing a licensing scheme. The draft ordinance would allow a limited number of short-term rental permits—up to eight per ward—subject to substantive regulations, restrict permitted short-term rentals to R2, R3 and R4 residential districts, and require annual safety inspections rather than the existing two-year cadence for long-term rentals.
Planning Director Cantanzaridi said the draft reflects council feedback from prior work sessions and includes a formula and separate rationale document for capacity limits. "The inspection process would mirror what we currently have, except the only difference being that this would be done every year," she said.
Resident Jake Balanek (8681 Hendricks Road) spoke in favor of regulated short-term rentals, saying roughly 20 have operated in Mentor for 10 years with few complaints and arguing that review systems and local hosts keep properties well maintained. "For 10 years, short term rentals have been operating successfully in the city, and they've been proven to be better than long term rentals because of the review and background checks they have to go through," he said.
Council members questioned whether a single ordinance could both repeal the prior ban and enact a new chapter; the law director confirmed that one ordinance can repeal Chapter 7.52 in its entirety and reenact a new chapter. A motion to suspend the rules and enact the ordinance on an emergency basis was moved and seconded. Roll call produced the following recorded positions: Mr. Krieger No; Mr. Pinkerman Yes; Mr. Martin Yes; Mr. Blake Yes; Mr. Donovan Yes; Mrs. Dowling No; Mr. Kirschner Yes. The suspension failed to gain the necessary votes, so Ordinance 25-O-088 will be read a second time at the council’s next meeting.
What happens next: Because the rules were not suspended, council will schedule a second reading for the ordinance, giving members additional time for review and for the public to submit input.
