City Council to take action on short-term rental ordinance

City Council
ECC to vote on short-term rental ordinance

GILMER, Ga. — The Ellijay City Council will meet on Feb. 21, 2022 to take action on an ordinance amendment that would set new guidelines for short-term rental units within Ellijay city limits. If the council approves the amendment, Chapter 60 will be added to Ellijay’s Code of Ordinances.

Short-term rental units are defined within the proposed chapter as “any detached, attached or semi-attached structure now or formerly used as a single-family dwelling, or the renting or leasing of a part or all of any structure not operating as a hotel, bed and breakfast, motel or inn where the term of occupancy for purposes of lodging, possession of tenancy is for a period of less than 30 days.”

Chapter 60 would prohibit short-term rental units in residential zoning districts. However, some exceptions are noted in the document. One is an exception for existing properties. After June 30, 2022 chapter 60 would also require property owners to receive any necessary permits and licenses to continue short-term rental use. Another exception would allow property owners to apply for conditional use permits if their residential properties “could be suitable as short-term rental units and would have no negative impact on the neighboring properties.” Only properties that border or are adjacent to the Central Business District would be considered for the permit, chapter 60 notes. However, if a property is given a conditional use permit, previously ineligible properties on the same street would become eligible as well. The latter exception would give other property owners, within 500 feet of the applicant’s property, an opportunity to object to the permit application.

Chapter 60 would implement a requirement for short-term rental licenses at a cost of $1,000 annually. The application for the license includes a requirement that the “name, address and telephone number(s) of the local contact person shall be submitted to the City Clerk, the City of Ellijay Police Department, the City of Ellijay Fire Department, and to the property owners located within a 500-foot radius of the property.”

Chapter 60 also specifies the plan for enforcement of the new regulations. The penalties for code violations include license suspension and fines of up to $1,000.

 

 

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