Avon, CO approves Short-term Rentals

Avon, Colorado, home to the Vail resorts ski area, has approved an ordinance allowing short-term rentals less than 30 days in most areas of the town center.

Previously, renting out homes for 30 days or fewer was forbidden in town.

Avon, Colorado, resident Judy Neuharth, who rents out her home on weekends to cover her mortgage, said she would lose her home if she could not rent it out on a short-term basis. She applauded the council's decision.

“I'm psyched,” she said. “I can see that I can keep it (my home). Really I bought it as an investment in the first place.”

A recurring debate focused on whether short-term renters cause noise and parking troubles.

One resident said allowing short-term rentals could attract party types such as fraternity brothers, but several other people argued short-term renters tend to be family types who spend money at local shops and restaurants.

Councilwoman Kristi Ferraro argued that short-term renters are no more likely than other residents to cause problems. She said a lot of people are already renting out their homes short term and would continue to do so even if the council didn't approve the change — in the same way people drank during Prohibition.

“I think it's a right people think they should have,” she said.

In a number of neighborhoods, short-term rentals remain forbidden, due to deed restrictions. These include planned unit developments where customized laws do not allow short-term rentals. In those neighborhoods, an amendment to those customized laws would be required to allow short-term rentals.

Miami Beach to Consider Ban on Condo Rentals

On Thursday, January 28th, at 4 PM, the City of Miami Beach Land Use Committee will consider expanding the recently adopted ban on single family home rentals of 6 months or less in RS1-4 zones to include the following areas:

RM1, CD1, RO, RO3, RPS1, RPS2, TH, RMPRD, and RPMRD2:

This ordinance would "codify" the former Planning Director's opinion that any rental of residential property in multi-family zones subject to the City's resort tax on apartment rentals should be construed as an illegal "hotel use".

This opinion was nullified by Special Master Kaplan's ruling in July, 2008.

This ordinance, if adopted, would effect all single family homes, condominiums, apartments, and town-homes and will supercede any condominium association rules, restrictive covenants, and/or other regulations permitting such rentals.

On a bright note, the Staff Report mentions the possibility of allowing 1 single-family home South of Fifth to operate short-term rentals, and grants approval to several properties in Flamingo Park areas to continue renting short-term.

Pacific Grove, CA Legalizes Short-term Rentals to Reap Tax Benefits

The Pacific Grove City Council voted unanimously this week to modify a 12-year old restriction on rentals for less than 30 days. The modification would permit rentals of residential property with registration, licenses, and payment of transient occupancy tax. This move will not only legitimize activity that has been going on in the City, but will bring in some much-needed cash flow to this town.

After twelve years of short-term rentals occurring throughout the city, despite an ordinance against such rentals, the City of Pacific Grove decided to take a different approach. The City’s current ordinance, enacted by the City Council in 1997, disallows rentals of single-family residences for less than 30 days. The City has now taken the position that these rentals should be licensed, inspected and taxed. The City missed out on over a million dollars in revenue that could have been generated since the original ordinance was passed.

The advent of legalization of rentals less than 30 days is reportedly joyous news to visitors, property managers, owners of second homes in PG, and PG business persons, all of whom will benefit from having visitors to the area.

See Link HERE