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Public hearing in Red River focuses on safety rules and fees for short‑term rentals
Summary
Council held a second public hearing on Ordinance 2024‑43 to require fire inspections, posted 24‑hour contacts and occupancy limits for short‑term rentals; the ordinance proposes a $100 annual application fee and staggered inspection fees. Several residents urged stricter limits to protect neighborhood character and affordable housing.
The Red River Town Council held a second public hearing on Ordinance 2024‑43, a municipal measure to tighten safety and registration rules for short‑term rental properties.
The ordinance would require each short‑term rental to provide the owner’s and local property manager’s contact information, post a 24‑hour on‑site or local contact, and meet fire‑safety requirements including fire extinguishers and carbon‑monoxide detectors. The proposal sets an application fee of $100 annually, an inspection certificate every two years for $50, a reinspection fee of $40 for failed inspections, a business registration fee of $35 and a $50 fee for ownership transfers, Town staff said.
Chair led the presentation of the ordinance and emphasized the safety rationale: the rules are designed to ensure safe ingress and egress, enforce occupancy limits and identify a responsible contact for emergencies. Staff clarified the ordinance is municipal and administrative (not a zoning change) and that compliance and enforcement would be handled by town administration.
During public comment, multiple residents urged the council to adopt stricter limits on short‑term rentals to protect neighborhood livability. A long public comment from a resident described repeated incidents of trespass, litter and large trailer parking and urged the council to ‘‘preserve the Red River area for owner occupants’’ and to consider the ordinance as a way to protect affordable housing for local children. The resident said short‑term rentals had, in their view, reduced neighbor safety and property respect.
Councilors asked clarifying questions about how the town would check zoning eligibility, how property managers would be handled and whether the fees resemble hotel taxes. Staff explained the application is administrative: zoning eligibility and parking minimums would be checked during the application review and the proposed charges are registration and inspection fees rather than an additional hotel tax.
The hearing closed without a recorded final vote on the ordinance during the meeting; councilors directed staff to incorporate input and return with revised language, according to Chair.
Next steps: staff will incorporate public comments into the draft and present revisions at a future meeting where the council may vote on final adoption.
