Vail Town Council to consider short-term rental regs on Tuesday, Nov. 7
VAIL — The Vail Town Council will consider first reading of an ordinance that would add additional regulations to the town’s short-term rental requirements at its regular meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 7. The action item is listed as 10.3 on the meeting agenda, which begins at 3 p.m. in the Vail Town Council Chambers. There will be opportunities for public comment.
As drafted, Ordinance No. 15 would establish a new short-term rental license application process with an annual renewal requirement. The proposed regulations would replace the town’s current process, which requires a business license for any owner renting a unit more than 14 days a year. The posting of a Vail sales tax account number on all advertisements and remittance of sales and lodging taxes would be retained under the new ordinance.
The ordinance also identifies criteria a homeowner would need to meet to obtain and renew a short-term rental license. This includes:
• An affidavit for each rented unit to be signed by the licensee to acknowledge trash, noise and parking regulations, as well as verifying life-safety precautions are in place.
• Each owner would be required to appoint a local property contact within a 30-minute response time or a licensed property manager or agent as a local contact person who has access and authority to assume management of the unit and take remedial measures. The local contact information would need to be posted in the interior of the rented unit for renters, as well as documented with the town. The local contact person or property manager would need to be available 24 hours a day to respond to tenant and neighborhood questions or concerns.
Support Local Journalism
• A requirement to post the license number, street address and local property contact information within 5 feet of the entrance to the short-term rental unit.
• As part of the application process, applicants would be required to notify a duplex neighbor of their intent to short-term rent the adjoining unit. Should a rental’s license be later revoked, written consent from a duplex neighbor would need to be provided to reinstate the license after a two-year waiting period.
• Violations of the town’s current noise, trash/recycling, building code, fire code, parking and occupancy regulations would be documented and tracked by staff. If an initial complaint is not resolved by the local property contact, a complaint may be filed with the town. Owners would then receive written notification from town staff.
• If there are three or more notices of violations issued for the same short-term rental property within a 12-month period, the town could revoke the license upon written notice to the owner. The owner could appeal and request an administrative hearing.
As proposed, the ordinance addresses a series of themes identified by the staff and council following a series of community listening sessions. Future topics for consideration will include reviewing options that would provide incentives for property owners to rent long-term.
To review the staff memo for Tuesday’s discussion, go to http://www.vailgov.com. To comment in advance of the meeting, contact the Vail Town Council at towncouncil@vailgov.com.
