Short Term Rental Regulations Update, (Public Hearing) May 22, 2024 - City Council, 6:00 PM

The Hamilton City Council will hold a public hearing on Wednesday evening, May 22, 2024 at 6:00 P.M. in the Council Chambers of the City Building located at 345 High Street, First Floor, One Renaissance Center, Municipal Building on the following item:

     LOCATION:     Citywide; (Highland Park neighborhood & Hickory Woods subdivision are proposed as areas prohibiting Short-Term Rental).

    APPLICANT:     City of Hamilton

      REQUEST:      Proposed amendments to City Ordinance, Chapter 758, the Short-Term Rental License.  This also includes prohibiting short-term rentals in Highland Park & Hickory Woods (please see the attached neighborhood map).

Short-Term Rentals (STRs) are more commonly referred to has AirBnBs or vacation rentals.

The City of Hamilton sought input on short-term rentals within the city limits to determine if Hamilton’s Short-Term Rental license program should be updated.  Based on the feedback received the City proposes changes and updates to the STR regulations. 

 Other notable proposed changes to the Short-Term Rental regulations include the following:

 ·         The Planning Department will send out a letter to all property owners within 100 feet of the short term rental notifying them that the property is being utilized as a short term rental, providing the emergency contact information, and also providing the best contact information at the City for problems.

·         Strengthening the violation/penalty section for Short-Term Rentals.

·         Improving the regulations around common problems like too many vehicles and noise violations.

·         Short-Term Rentals prohibited in Highland Park and Hickory Woods.

If approved, all existing registered Short-Term Rental would still be permitted to continue operations as long as they remain in good standing with Short Term Rental License regulations (i.e. the license is renewed so that it does not expire, the license is not suspended or revoked).  Properties within the Highland Park and Hickory Wood neighborhoods would be considered “grandfathered” which means that said use can continue to operate.

 Please Note: At the April 18th meeting, at a public hearing, the Planning Commission recommended approval of the recommended changes.

Tentative timeline:

First Reading & Public Hearing: May 22, 2024

Second Reading (Decision): June 12, 2024