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Columbia Falls weighs owner-occupied limits, higher permits and enforcement for short-term rentals
Summary
City staff presented data showing about 121 short-term rental units and proposed a centralized permit system with $350 initial and $250 annual fees; the planning commission urged an attrition-based owner-occupied preference and council asked staff to return with ordinance language for a future vote.
Columbia Falls city leaders spent the bulk of a council meeting reviewing staff and planning-commission proposals to overhaul how short-term rentals are permitted and enforced.
City Manager Eric presented the staff analysis, saying the city tracks about 121 short-term rental units — roughly 4.7% of residential households — and reported $3.2 million in gross revenue to the state and about $96,000 in resort tax receipts. Eric said staff recommends replacing the current business-license registration with a dedicated short-term-rental permit, stronger enforcement tools, platform cooperation and an implementation date of January 2027. "We recommend no maximum limit with any city or specific zoning," Eric said, adding that the permit system and higher fees would fund improved administration.
The planning commission urged a different approach.…
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