Short-term rentals at lake debated
Staff writer
Parking and occupancy limits on short-term rentals at Marion County Lake were points of contention at Thursday’s planning and zoning meeting.
Regulations allow a maximum of eight people in a short-term rental, but commissioners discussed changing that number.
Another concern is people parking on Lakeshore Rd.
“Let’s try to have some control,” commissioner Derek Belton said. “We don’t have the time to police that.”
Belton said it would be up to residents to call law enforcement when seeing a violation.
Some people follow the regulations and others won’t, he said.
“Anyone can complain at any time,” planning consultant Russ Ewy said.
Commissioner John Weiser wondered what enforcement would look like and who would need to be contacted to file a complaint.
Belton reiterated that the county does not have the staff to enforce regulations.
Planning and zoning administrator Sharon Omstead said there was a time when parking and the number of people renting short-term rentals were rampant because there were no regulations.
“There are probably lots that are not following the regulations,” Belton said.
Commissioners said parking was a problem everywhere.
Belton conceded this is not going to get better anytime soon because it has been happening for years and nothing has changed.
Commissioner Derek Lowe said owners needed to know the maximum number of people and vehicles allowed when renting out properties for short periods.
The number of parking spaces allowed is two and should be on the property, not in the street.
“This should be a case-by-case basis,” Lowe said, asking for a definition of a bedroom.
Generally, a bedroom could include a sleeper sofa in the living room or any other place where people sleep.
The county tries to handle these issues, Omstead said.
“We do a certificate of occupancy that has to be renewed every year,” she said. “We are having these issues at the lake.”
If there are four bedrooms, that would equate to eight people staying at the rental, she said.
Lowe reiterated that he wanted to propose a regulation focusing on a case-by-case basis.
Short-term rental owners know what they can and cannot do based on space, so they can be asked to show the space they have, he said.
Commissioner Dax Kannady wondered whether there should be two different standards on the number of people allowed at a short-tem rental.
Ewy said planning and zoning could play with the numbers a little.
“Come to us, and prove your occupancy, and this board can handle it,” Belton said.
Commissioners asked Ewy to write up guidelines for their next scheduled meeting.