PETERSBURG – An ordinance aimed at regulating short-term rentals, a rising housing trend fed by social media, was approved by the Township Committee after a public hearing on Monday, Feb. 26.
The ordinance was a different version of a measure introduced several months ago, Deputy Mayor Kimberly Hayes said.
“People were not happy with it, so we brought people in for input,” Hayes said. “I feel we came up with something everyone is comfortable with.”
One member of the public said at the hearing that he felt the ordinance was meddling with the rates he could charge his customers.
“You are interfering with my business,” resident John Grubb said.
Township Solicitor Anthony Monzo said the ordinance has no dollar reference, other than an annual license fee of $100. It requires owners to register their short-term rentals annually, running April 1 through March 31 of the following year.
The ordinance also includes “short-term rental restrictions,” including:
- Parking is limited to two cars per three-bedroom house, including on-street parking. An additional car is allowed for each additional bedroom.
- Occupancy shall be no more than two people per bedroom.
- Occupants shall comply with municipal ordinances and state statutes pertaining to noise, nuisances and health concerns.
- No amplified music shall be permitted outdoors after 9 p.m.
- All trash must be put in closed containers and placed at the curb on the scheduled pickup day.
- All advertisements of the rental shall include the restrictions contained in the ordinance.
Violators are subject to up to 90 days in jail and/or a fine of up to $1,250, at the discretion of the municipal judge, but will be $100 minimum. Each day a violation occurs is considered a separate violation.
In the fall, some residents complained about the behavior of renters in some neighborhoods. One resident referred to a party on the front lawn of a rental property, and said she was followed down the street by someone, who was obviously inebriated, while she walked her dog.
Monzo said the purpose of the ordinance was to balance the rights of property owners to earn rents and those of their neighbors.
One resident, Mary Busz, spoke in favor of the ordinance, which will become effective prior to the April 1 rental registration date.
Contact the author, Christopher South, at csouth@cmcherald.com or 609-886-8600, ext. 128.
