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St. Charles County council continues debate over short-term rental rules as Bill 5490 remains tabled
Summary
Council discussion and public comment on Bill No. 5490 focused on grandfathering existing owners, a proposed 600-foot density limit, licensing enforcement and whether inspections or complaint-driven enforcement are appropriate; the ordinance remained tabled.
Council Chair Mike Elam convened a work session June 8 to reopen discussion of Bill No. 5490, an ordinance that would regulate short-term rentals in unincorporated St. Charles County. The council spent more than 40 minutes balancing enforcement concerns, property rights and practical mechanics for licensing and density limits.
"Short-term rentals need to be regulated," said Bob Eno, an unincorporated-county resident, during the public-comment period, urging the council to take constituent complaints seriously. Opposing the ordinance, Matt Becker, representing the St. Charles Realtors, said he has "invested over $200,000.00 in each" of two short-term rental properties and argued the county should rely on existing enforcement rather than new, restrictive rules.
On policy, Community Development Director Mike Hurlbert told the council that noise and party complaints are difficult to investigate because renters often leave before staff can respond, and that the proposed 600-foot density limitation would be implemented through licensing rather than zoning. Hurlbert said current short-term rental owners would be given a 30-day window to apply for licensing to be grandfathered in; several council members urged longer flexibility for existing owners.
Councilman Tim Baker said the intent of the bill should be to regulate problem properties without creating financial hardship for owners and advocated for grandfathering existing rentals; he later proposed giving current owners six months to seek grandfathered status. Councilman Joe Brazil said he opposed parts of the bill that would authorize county inspections and occupancy limits, arguing such rules could infringe on personal freedoms. Councilman Matt Swanson and others favored a complaint-driven enforcement approach, saying most short-term rentals "are not causing issues."
The council did not vote on Bill No. 5490; it remained tabled from earlier action. Members asked staff to return with additional options and a plan that might address isolated problem properties without adopting a countywide regime.
Next steps: Council members requested Community Development staff prepare alternative enforcement proposals and clarifications on licensing windows and density measurements before the council takes further action.
