Commission reviews text amendment to restrict commercial short‑term rentals and clarify multifamily home‑occupation rules

Athens‑Clarke County planning staff presented a text amendment to the short‑term rental ordinance aimed at two goals: clarifying the home‑occupation short‑term rental definition so that individual units in multifamily housing can apply administratively, and revising where commercial short‑term rentals (owner not living on site; purely commercial use) are allowed.

Under the proposal, multifamily occupants could apply for a home‑occupation short‑term rental permit administratively if they are the owner or an occupant; commercial short‑term rentals would continue to be allowed in commercial zones but would not be permitted in RS (single‑family) zones and would be disallowed in RM zones except through a home‑occupation route. The proposal would also remove commercial short‑term rentals from sections of AR zoned neighborhoods that are platted subdivisions. Staff emphasized registration/licensing and any sunset rules for legal nonconforming STRs would be handled later.

Commissioners asked for clearer explanatory materials and for staff to provide a concise guide to zoning categories and permitted uses to help constituents understand the changes. The commission did not adopt the amendment at the agenda‑setting meeting; staff will return with finalized language and outreach materials.