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Draper staff previews short-term-rental ordinance; council presses for stronger response and a longer minimum stay
Summary
City staff presented a draft short-term rental ordinance proposing to allow rentals in single‑family homes, townhomes, condos and detached ADUs (not internal ADUs), require an urgent-response contact and set safety and permit requirements; councilmembers debated minimum stay (3 nights preferred by some), enforcement response times and protections against subleasing in apartments.
City staff presented the council with a draft short-term rental ordinance and asked for policy direction on allowable unit types, minimum-stay rules, enforcement and safety requirements.
Planning staff described a draft that would permit short‑term rentals in single-family houses, townhomes, condominiums and detached accessory dwelling units, but would not allow internal ADUs. The staff presentation also proposed treating apartment complexes differently: complexes could allow short-term rentals of units they control, but subleasing of individual apartment units would be prohibited. “We are proposing… single family, townhomes, condos, and detached ADUs,” the planner said when summarizing the draft’s scope.
Councilmembers discussed minimum-stay limits as a tool to reduce one‑night-party incidents. Several members said a two-night minimum was too short; one member suggested three nights. “The three would probably help,” a councilmember said in support of a longer minimum stay. The council also debated the urgency-contact requirement: staff proposed hosts provide a 24/7 urgent-response phone number for neighbors and police; some members asked for a faster response window (staff noted one hour was proposed and suggested they could shorten it to 30 minutes).
Other draft requirements include posting permit and business-license numbers on listings, limits on external signage, mandatory safety equipment (smoke/carbon-monoxide detectors and fire extinguishers), minimum parking and occupancy standards tied to building code, an annual administrative permit/renewal process and authority to revoke permits for repeated violations. Staff said enforcement would begin with notice and an opportunity to apply or correct noncompliance before escalating to fines or permit revocation.
Council feedback emphasized enforcement practicality, coordination with police and fire for response information, and avoiding overly broad geographic restrictions. Staff said the draft is still under internal review and will be returned to the council for review of the full ordinance text.
What’s next: Staff will finish a draft ordinance for formal review and return with recommended language on minimum stay, response-time requirements and enforcement details.
