April 2, 2024 |
Photo – View from a short term rental – Courtesy Zumper.com
Citing a lack of affordable housing in the town, the Saratoga Planning Commission has been investigating whether to regulate short-term rentals, such as Air BnB. A debate over short-term rental regulations surfaced at a Saratoga Town Council meeting last month.
At the March 19th Saratoga town council meeting, Public Works Director Emery Penner said four residents brought up the topic of short-term rentals at the last planning commission meeting.
Planning Commission Chairwoman McCall Burau said Town Attorney Kylie Waldrip recommended not making a decision about short-term rental regulation until a Jackson, Wyoming legal case concluded. Chairwoman Burau said the planning commission is still interested in discussing the matter further.
Burau also said the state is not considering any regulations to curtail short-term rentals.
Chairwoman Burau said the planning commission would like to continue investigating the possibility of limiting short-term rentals in Saratoga.
Burau said other in-town businesses require permits to operate. She said it seems odd that vacation rentals are not subject to the same regulations.
Mayor Chuck Davis said the town should hold a public meeting to solicit input from residents. Mayor Davis said people need to attend the meeting so the town understands how residents feel about short-term rentals.
Councilman Jerry Fluty said the town is getting too heavily regulated. Councilman Fluty asked when the town will stop interfering with private property.
In addition to the state’s lodging tax, any rental of less than 30 days in Carbon County must pay an additional 2% lodging tax. Long-term or monthly rentals are not required to pay the same tax. Councilman Fluty said short-term rentals contribute more to the local economy.
Mayor Davis said the discussion should wait until after he meets with Town Attorney Waldrip. The mayor said Attorney Waldrip originally suggested the town not pursue a short-term rental ordinance.
Planning Commission Chairwoman Burau asked Mayor Davis if she could still convene a subcommittee to investigate short-term rental regulations. Councilman Fluty said a subcommittee is unnecessary until the town hears back from Attorney Waldrip. Burau said a good ordinance should be thoroughly discussed before being set into law.
At that point, Mayor Davis stopped the conversation. The mayor said the council will revisit the matter during this evening’s Saratoga town council meeting.
