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City staff outline licensing, notification models and tax collection for short‑term rentals
Summary
Building and Zoning Services, legislative research and the Auditor's Office described Columbus' STR licensing regimen (1,535 licenses), background checks, local contact rules, neighbor‑notification options used by other cities, and how a 5.1% lodging excise tax is collected and distributed.
City staff briefed the committee on how Columbus currently permits and taxes short‑term rentals and what other cities do for neighbor notification.
Tony Celebrizi, Deputy Director of the Department of Building and Zoning Services, said initial STR legislation was adopted in 2018 and amended in 2021 to tighten accountability. "We restricted who can apply for this to the property owner or a permanent occupant," Celebrizi said, and the city requires background checks for applicants and managing members and a 24‑hour local contact for response.
Celebrizi provided licensing numbers and fees: "We are right now at 1,535" STR licenses; there is a $20 application fee; if approved, an owner‑occupied license costs $75 per year and a…
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