An ordinance that would regulate short-term rental housing, such as those offered on online sites like Airbnb and VRBO, has had a first reading before the Woodstock City Council.
A staff report to the council described the Short Term Rentals Ordinance as a “minimalistic approach” to the issue. It requires a property owner to obtain a home-occupation license for the business, allows safety and welfare inspections if necessary, protects neighbors and requires the payment of hotel/motel taxes.
It also requires a homeowners association to provide a statement that it allows short-term rentals, staff said. The ordinance defines a short-term rental as a residence offered for lodging, for compensation, of no more than 30 consecutive days in a single- or multi-family dwelling with no more than five bedrooms.
“Once adopted, development services staff will begin the process of phasing in the requirements on the (short-term rental) units located within the jurisdiction,” staff said. “There are currently around 20.”
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