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Monona council amends short‑term rental rules to comply with state case law
Summary
The council voted on second reading to revise Monona’s short‑term rental ordinance, removing a now‑invalid distinction between owner‑occupied and non‑owner‑occupied rentals and tightening permit requirements; the ordinance passed on a roll call.
The Monona City Council approved revised rules for short‑term rentals on second reading May 4, citing recent state court guidance that prevents local codes from treating owner‑occupied and non‑owner‑occupied short‑term rentals differently.
City staff explained that the ordinance amendments remove an exception clause and standardize permit requirements across all short‑term rentals while preserving existing permitting duties such as operator contact information, zoning and safety verifications, quarterly reporting, payment of room tax, and permit fees. Staff said the change was prompted by recent case law and advice from the city attorney.
The staff presentation noted that in 2025–26 the city issued 29 short‑term rental permits and encountered one case that required significant enforcement under other ordinances (noise, parking). The recommended amendments streamline permitting and eliminate a now‑unenforceable exception process because staff lacked objective standards to evaluate exceptions.
After brief council questions about enforcement and fees, Alder Brian Holquist moved approval; the ordinance passed on a roll‑call vote with the council recording all present members in favor and Alder Rachel Kugel excused.
The revision will take effect according to the ordinance’s normal timetable; staff said permit guidance and the city web pages will be updated within the next two weeks to reflect the new rules.
