By NANETTE LoBIONDO GALLOWAY
VENTNOR The Board of Commissioners will hold another discussion on short-term rentals (STRs) at its Feb. 9 meeting, starting at 5:30 p.m.
The board is considering changes to its short-term rental ordinance to allow for better management of problems that arise from property owners renting their homes on online rental marketplaces.
According to Commissioner of Public Safety and Community Affairs Tim Kriebel, the city is considering eliminating one-night rentals in favor of longer stays.
During the Jan. 12 board meeting, Kriebel fielded questions from a city resident who said a third of the houses on his block are rented out on a short-term basis, which causes problems for the neighborhood, including exacerbating parking issues.
Kriebel encourages residents who are experiencing problems with STRs to contact police, who will keep track of calls at specific residences. If problems persist, the city could revoke the property owners' license to operate.
According to Host Compliance, LLC software used by the city, there are more than 400 Ventnor properties registered on short-term rental marketplaces, such as Airbnb, Evolve, HomeAway or VRBO,
The city adopted its short-term rental ordinance in December 2018, which requires property owners who rent their properties for less than 30 days to obtain a mercantile license at a cost of $100 a year.
The city is considering increasing the minimum stay to two or three nights. The minimum stay in Margate is one week, and in Atlantic City, SRTs are allowed for rental periods fewer than 30 days. According to Atlantic City's ordinance, the annual cost of a rental license is $1,000 for occupancy under six people, and $1,500 for occupancy over seven people. It also imposes a $1 per day promotion fee for the Special Events Department and a 3% tax on rental fees charged.
About 60 residents and STR operators attended the Sept. 22, 2022, commission meeting to provide the commissioners with their opinions about the problems created by STRs, such as parking issues, noise complaints and excessive trash.
Some believe that those who rent for just one night do not contribute much to the local business community and are in town only to party or visit the casinos, coming home in the early morning hours and disturbing neighbors.
Some owner-occupied short-term rental units do not experience the same problems as those whose owners live off-site and they requested a carve out for owner-occupied STRs. Other responsible operators go the extra mile and install noise monitors and hire private contractors to maintain proper trash disposal.
Some residents requested longer stays, while others said short-term rentals are the lifeblood of the restaurant and business community, especially in the off-season, and they bring new shoppers to the business districts.
Being too strict with STRs will have a negative impact on their personal income, several operators said.
Kriebel said the commissioners hope to get the ordinance updated and in place before the start of the summer season.
This story was updated to include information about STRs in Atlantic City.
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