Explanation
This legislation repeals and replaces various sections of the current Columbus City Code for Chapter 598 to harmonize multiple previous iterations and to reorganize with clarification certain sections involving the licensing process, regulation of host and hosting platform requirements, and criminal penalties for Short-Term Rentals. Due to concerns and interest of community members after the initial passage, continuous clarification and amendments are deemed reasonable and necessary.
The City’s goal with the legislation is to balance the well-being and interests of City residents and visitors while allowing short-term rentals to operate and become a piece of the economic and tourism fabric in Columbus. Research and a nationwide scan of policies in other cities informed the legislation, as well as numerous meetings with impacted stakeholders such as residents and community members, the hosting platforms, short-term rental hosts, hotel/motel representatives, the tourism industry, and realtors.
Section 598.02(A)(2) related to prohibiting the operation of a short-term rental without a permit went into effect January 1, 2019. Sections 598.15 and 598.16, related to penalties for short-term rental hosts and hosting platforms, respectively, went into effect March 1, 2019. In this ordinance, the penalties for both short-term rental hosts and hosting platforms are being addressed in Section 598.15 and therefore Section 598.16 is being repealed accordingly.
Given the rapid growth and dynamic nature of short-term rentals, a thorough review and assessment of the current regulations for short-term rentals will occur 2 years from the January 1, 2019 implementation.
Title
To amend Chapter 598 of the Columbus City Code in order to clarify and amend regulations for short-term rental operations and hosting platforms.
Body
WHEREAS, the State of Ohio currently has no regulations on short-term rentals and online hosting platforms; and
WHEREAS, the City of Co...
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