AGENDA DATE: 8/18/2021
TITLE: TiWork Session on Homestay Program
ODY
SUBJECT/PROPOSAL/REQUEST: Receive Homestay Compliance Program updates, discuss Potential Zoning Text Amendment, and identify topics for a future Work Session
ITEM TYPE: Regular Action Item
STAFF CONTACT(S): Richardson, Walker, Kamptner, Herrick, Filardo, Birch, McCulley, Lin, Svoboda, Ragsdale, Green, Bradshaw
PRESENTER (S): Bart Svoboda
LEGAL REVIEW: Yes
REVIEWED BY: Jeffrey B. Richardson
BACKGROUND: A "homestay" provides lodging and rooms to guests for less than 30 days, is accessory to a single-family dwelling, and may offer no more than five guest bedrooms for lodging. Homestays are also known as "short term rentals," "Airbnb," "VRBO," or "transient lodging," and were previously known in the Albemarle County Zoning Ordinance as "Bed and Breakfasts" or "Accessory Tourist Lodging." The number of homestays operating at the time without holding applicable zoning clearances or remitting applicable taxes created a "compliance gap." Study of the issue led to a series of amendments to the County's taxation, health and safety, fire protection, and zoning regulations in 2017-2019. Those amendments attempted to balance increased tourism with preserving the Rural Area and residential areas from potential negative impacts.
STRATEGIC PLAN: Quality Government Operations - Ensure County government's capacity to provide high quality service that achieves community priorities
DISCUSSION: This work session is in response to the Board's request to review the homestay compliance program and experience with the new regulations after implementation. After the first updates were provided to the Board in June 2020, the Board requested another update the following year.
1. Proactive Compliance Program Updates - With the assistance of a third-party service, staff began contacting homestay operators proactively to achieve compliance. Staff believes that 90% of homestays are now compliant and ...
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