Intern recommends streamlined short-term rental rules, stronger administrative penalties for repeat violators

Laney Klein, the community development intern, told the Cherokee County Board of Commissioners she reviewed the county's short-term rental (STR) ordinance and found persistent enforcement challenges five years after the ordinance was adopted. "Cherokee County implemented an STR ordinance in 2021," Klein said, noting ongoing problems such as parking in yards, unsecured trash and noise complaints that often occur on nights and weekends when staff cannot immediately respond.

Klein said four core issues drive enforcement difficulties: delayed reporting/enforcement when guests have already checked out; lack of reliable local contact persons (owners sometimes list contacts who live out of state); the prevalence of unregistered STRs; and a cumbersome re-registration process that consumes code‑compliance time. To address those problems, she recommended streamlining the certificate renewal calendar, enhancing administrative penalties that would allow the county to place strikes on certificates and revoke privileges without initiating costly court action, and ensuring ordinance requirements match county inspection capacity for building‑safety items like smoke and carbon‑monoxide detectors.

The proposal also reflects recent state law changes affecting tax administration: Klein said platforms such as Airbnb and Vrbo are now required to provide local property and ownership information, giving the county greater audit authority over who is operating STRs. Commissioners voiced support for practical changes and probed enforcement logistics; staff indicated the county could shift toward administrative remedies rather than pursuing every violation through courts.

The board did not take immediate action but requested staff to incorporate these recommendations into a draft ordinance revision for future consideration.