Rushford Village mayor asks commission to explore short-term rental rules, cites possible revenue

Planning and Zoning Administrator Jon Pettit said Rushford Village has no ordinance specifically regulating short-term rentals such as VRBOs after Mayor Dennis Overland raised the question at the Planning and Zoning Commission meeting on Oct. 15.

The exchange began when Mayor Dennis Overland asked whether the village had an ordinance or policy that pertains to VRBOs (vacation rentals by owner). Pettit replied that Rushford Village “does not” regulate who rents a place and noted the village also does not currently regulate bed-and-breakfast operations. Overland suggested the village might be able to collect revenue through a license or tax if it chose to regulate short-term rentals, and noted that a VRBO would be the only dwelling allowed on a single parcel under the scenario he described.

The commission did not adopt a policy at the meeting. Pettit said he would check with Fillmore County about any existing county rules or practices and report back to the commission at a future meeting. No formal motion or ordinance language was introduced on Oct. 15.

Why it matters: many small municipalities are weighing whether to regulate short-term rentals to address neighborhood impacts and to capture tax or license revenue. For Rushford Village, any local regulation would require more research and likely coordination with county rules before the commission could draft an ordinance or propose licensing.

Next steps: Pettit will contact Fillmore County and present any relevant information to the commission; no timeline was set at the Oct. 15 meeting.