Staff outlines new short-term rental rules; board hears questions on parking, enforcement

At first reading staff presented proposed changes to the Chatham County short-term rental (STR) ordinance (amendment to Chapter 16, Article 13) and walked commissioners through goals, timeline and major changes. The proposal would implement district-based zoning and a cap on non‑homestead short-term rentals, require annual parking plans (one parking space per bedroom), maintain uniform definitions for bedrooms and put internal notification materials inside each unit rather than external signage.

A staff presenter said the earlier distance requirement had been removed in favor of police-response neighborhood districts and that the ordinance would emphasize licensing and enforcement. “The distance requirement that we had in the initial ordinance has been removed, because we're going into these districts,” the presenter said. Commissioners supported the direction overall but raised specific concerns about the proposed parking formula prompting property owners to pave front yards. One commissioner suggested a tiered parking requirement to avoid unintended outcomes.

Staff also described an online public portal and complaint-tracking GIS layer that will let residents search licensed STRs and file complaints; enforcement tools include warning, suspension and revocation of licenses and staff referral to the county manager and county attorney for prosecution when appropriate. Staff said they will refine maps and publish materials ahead of the second reading.