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Hurricane bans small short‑term rentals in commercial zones; hotels still allowed
Summary
Council approved a land‑use code amendment prohibiting short‑term rentals with fewer than 10 rooms in commercial zones, aiming to preserve commercial uses and downtown housing stock; the change was unanimous.
Hurricane City Council unanimously approved an amendment to the land-use code that will prevent small short‑term lodging units—short-term rentals of fewer than 10 rooms—from operating in commercial zones. The change, reflected in proposed LUC A24-05 to Title 10 (chapters 3, 15 and 51), preserves traditional hotel development but removes the ability for small vacation‑rental operations to occupy commercial storefronts or upper-floor commercial spaces in non‑overlay commercial districts.
Staff told the council the planning commission had expressed concern that an outright ban in commercial zones could remove a potential housing option and be counterproductive in historic downtown areas; the commission considered conditional use or overlay approaches for downtown. Staff recommended the amendment as written but noted the downtown zoning overlay under development might allow different rules in core downtown areas.
Council members discussed exceptions for owner‑occupied hosting and noted the ordinance is intended to allow conventional hotels while discouraging conversion of commercial space to short‑term visitor units. After a brief discussion, a motion to approve the ordinance passed unanimously.
The amendment is intended to preserve commercial storefronts and ground-floor activity that serve residents and to prevent the proliferation of small visitor units that supply short‑term lodging without contributing to long‑term housing stock.
