Story by Donna Thornton donna@southerntorch.com
The Fort Payne Planning Commission discussed setting some regulations for short-term rental properties during its meeting Tuesday and came to a conclusion.
More information is needed, members feel,from people who have STR properties, and from municipalities that have passed regulating ordinances for them, before the commission gives a plan its blessing.
The commission tabled making a recommendation to the Fort Payne City Council until next month at least. It would be up to the council then to consider the matter and vote on potential regulations.
Talk has been underway for at least a year on establishing some sort of regulations for property rentals for less than 30 days – the kind often arranged through AirBnB or Vrbo.
The commission heard about the City of Guntersville’s plan, which requires a $20 licensing fee for STR properties to offset the cost of yearly inspections.
Regulations are viewed as a way to ensure safety for those who rent the properties.
In other areas, the regulations vary widely – with some including several pages of requirements and restrictions specific to STR properties. Others simply included STRs in the regulations on any rental properties.
Based on discussions
Tuesday night, there are two ways of looking at STR regulations: As a potentially unwanted requirement for property owners, or as standards for these short-term accomodations, just as there are standards for other lodgings.
The standards, it was suggested, could even be a selling-point for property owners, as
well -- a way to ensure that a responsible property owner is not being undercut on pricing by someone offering a substandard rental.
Commission members agreed to get more information before taking any action on short-term rentals.
They did take action to recommend a minimum square foot requirement of 800 square feet for all residential zones, except residential small zones, where the minimum will be 600 square feet.
The commission also discussed possibly changing the verbiage of Subdivision Regulations regarding street access from private or gated communities.
