Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Short Term Rentals topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Green Bay council approves changes to short-term rental rules, adds owner-primary-residence and occupancy disclosure
Summary
The Green Bay Common Council voted March 3 to amend the city's short-term rental rules to add an "owner's primary residence" field and require occupancy information on applications; staff said the disclosure is informational and enforcement of private house rules remains limited.
The Green Bay Common Council on March 3 approved amendments to the municipal code on short-term rentals that require applicants to disclose whether a property is the owner's primary residence and to list occupancy information on the permit application.
Supporters said the changes improve transparency for neighbors and provide police with information when responding to complaints. "That will help our police if there are any calls," Chief Fultz said during the discussion, adding that an incomplete application could be denied for missing information. City staff and the city attorney cautioned that the city cannot always police private house rules; occupancy listed on an application is largely informational, not a substitute for private enforcement.
Alder Hinkfuss proposed the initial amendment to add an occupancy field and to note whether a rental is owner or non-owner occupied; staff clarified that owner status will appear as "owner's primary residence" in the application so neighbors can more accurately know whether the owner normally lives there. Mister Leroy, speaking for inspections/permits, said the standard application will capture number of bedrooms and other particulars used as a proxy for sleeping capacity because precise overnight capacity can vary by dwelling layout.
The council debated wording to avoid giving neighbors false expectations about owner presence if an owner temporarily leaves the residence. As Alder Grant noted, an owner who leaves for a weekend and rents the home would still be registered as a primary residence but not physically present; the council said the application field aims to clarify ownership status, not guarantee owner oversight at every moment.
The ordinance as amended was approved by voice vote and advanced for additional readings. The council directed staff to include the occupancy and primary-residence fields in the application materials and to continue coordination between planning, police and inspections as the rules are implemented.
