short-term rentals presentation
Post on 23-Feb-2022
6 Views
Preview:
TRANSCRIPT
City of SomervilleZoning AmendmentCity of Somerville
Short-term RentalsPresentation
City of SomervillePlanning Division
www.somervillema.gov/strs
11/15/2018
Mayor Joseph A CurtatoneOffice of Strategic Planning
& Community Development
Mayor Joseph A CurtatoneOffice of Strategic Planning
& Community Development
What is a short-term rental (STR)?
o The rental of a residential unit in exchange for payment as residential accommodations for a duration of 30 days or less
o Airbnb is the most popular service for STRs in Somerville
Mayor Joseph A. CurtatoneCity of Somerville
Office of Strategic Planning& Community Development
Mayor Joseph A CurtatoneOffice of Strategic Planning
& Community Development
Mayor Joseph A CurtatoneOffice of Strategic Planning
& Community Development
What are the current regulations?
Some STRs are allowed by the Zoning Code as a Tourist Home Accessory Use
Mayor Joseph A. CurtatoneCity of Somerville
Office of Strategic Planning& Community Development
BUT: The Tourist Home Accessory Use is limited to the rental of bedrooms. It does not permit renting entire units.
Mayor Joseph A CurtatoneOffice of Strategic Planning
& Community Development
Mayor Joseph A CurtatoneOffice of Strategic Planning
& Community Development
Building Code Guidelines
o Different buildings are grouped into categories by use and occupancy classification with varying requirements of safety
o Additional safety measures are required, by the state building code, for spaces converted to a transient use, defined by the building code as the occupancy of a dwelling for thirty days or less
Mayor Joseph A. CurtatoneCity of Somerville
Office of Strategic Planning& Community Development
Mayor Joseph A CurtatoneOffice of Strategic Planning
& Community Development
Mayor Joseph A CurtatoneOffice of Strategic Planning
& Community Development
Building Code Requirements
o Additional safety measures may include the following and more: automatic sprinkler system, fire doors, fire walls, exit signage, draft stopping, manual fire alarm, exit signage, emergency lights, and an extra emergency escape
o Homeowner-occupied, detached 1- or 2-family homes that offer five or fewer rooms for rent are exempted.
Mayor Joseph A. CurtatoneCity of Somerville
Office of Strategic Planning& Community Development
Mayor Joseph A CurtatoneOffice of Strategic Planning
& Community Development
Mayor Joseph A CurtatoneOffice of Strategic Planning
& Community Development
STR numbers and types
Hosts Renters
Average age: 38 Average age: 34
Annual earnings for a typical host: $6,600
Average length of stay: 3.6 nights
57% female 97% of rentals were for 4 or fewer people
813 Active Listings Average group size: 2
From Airbnb 2017 data
Mayor Joseph A. CurtatoneCity of Somerville
Office of Strategic Planning& Community Development
Mayor Joseph A CurtatoneOffice of Strategic Planning
& Community Development
Mayor Joseph A CurtatoneOffice of Strategic Planning
& Community Development
How often are hosts renting?
From Airbnb 2017 data
Mayor Joseph A. CurtatoneCity of Somerville
Office of Strategic Planning& Community Development
Mayor Joseph A CurtatoneOffice of Strategic Planning
& Community Development
Mayor Joseph A CurtatoneOffice of Strategic Planning
& Community Development
Common STR concerns
o Visitors don’t always know (or follow) local rules
o Short-term renters may be less considerate of neighbors
o Increased occupancy can have a negative impact on trash, parking and traffic
o Unregulated STRs are less likely to meet safety codes
o The increase in the number of strangers in a neighborhood can make some feel unsafe
o STRs can reduce the available housing stock for residents
Mayor Joseph A. CurtatoneCity of Somerville
Office of Strategic Planning& Community Development
Mayor Joseph A CurtatoneOffice of Strategic Planning
& Community Development
Mayor Joseph A CurtatoneOffice of Strategic Planning
& Community Development
Potential STR benefits
o STR income can help residents afford their rent or mortgage
o STRs can promote cultural exchange
o STRs can bring tourism dollars to local businesses
o STRs help address a shortage of overnight options for Somerville visitors
o STRs allow resident without room for guests in their homes to find them overnight options in their own neighborhood
Mayor Joseph A. CurtatoneCity of Somerville
Office of Strategic Planning& Community Development
Mayor Joseph A CurtatoneOffice of Strategic Planning
& Community Development
Mayor Joseph A CurtatoneOffice of Strategic Planning
& Community Development
Our goals with STR policy
o Prevent much-needed housing from being removed from the market and turned into permanent short-term rentals
o Allow homeowners to make extra income and promote citywide economic growth
o Having regulations in place to make sure short-term rentals are safe and that help address potential issues
Mayor Joseph A. CurtatoneCity of Somerville
Office of Strategic Planning& Community Development
Mayor Joseph A CurtatoneOffice of Strategic Planning
& Community Development
Mayor Joseph A CurtatoneOffice of Strategic Planning
& Community Development
We Asked the Community:
Somerville resident offering their entire place when they are away?
Allow Don’t allow Allow with conditions
Somerville resident living in West Somerville offering an entire place in East Somerville (for example)?
Allow Don’t allow Allow with conditions
A resident of some other city offering an entire place in Somerville that they do not live in?
Allow Don’t allow Allow with conditions
Somerville resident offering a private room(s) or a shared room(s) in the place where they live in?
Allow Don’t allow Allow with conditions
Somerville resident offering a separate entire dwelling than the one where they live in the same building?
Allow Don’t allow Allow with conditions
Mayor Joseph A. CurtatoneCity of Somerville
Office of Strategic Planning& Community Development
Mayor Joseph A CurtatoneOffice of Strategic Planning
& Community Development
Mayor Joseph A CurtatoneOffice of Strategic Planning
& Community Development
Limited Share Unit STR
Somerville resident offering a private room(s) or a shared
room(s) in the place where they live in:
An Operator may offer a Limited Share Unit as a Short-Term
Rental 365 days per year. Rental shall be limited to ten
guests, or two guests per bedroom, whichever is fewer
One bedroom in the unit shall be reserved for, and occupied
by, the Operator during the entire term of the rental
Said Unit shall be rented to only one party of Short-Term
renters at a time, not rented as separate bedrooms to
separate parties
Mayor Joseph A. CurtatoneCity of Somerville
Office of Strategic Planning& Community Development
Mayor Joseph A CurtatoneOffice of Strategic Planning
& Community Development
Mayor Joseph A CurtatoneOffice of Strategic Planning
& Community Development
Home Share STR
Mayor Joseph A. CurtatoneCity of Somerville
Office of Strategic Planning& Community Development
Somerville resident offering their entire place when
they are away:
Rental shall be limited to ten guests, or two guests per
bedroom, whichever is fewer
Rental shall not exceed ninety (90) consecutive or
nonconsecutive calendar days per year
Such Unit shall be rented to one party of Short-Term
renters at a time, not rented as separate bedrooms to
separate parties
Mayor Joseph A CurtatoneOffice of Strategic Planning
& Community Development
Mayor Joseph A CurtatoneOffice of Strategic Planning
& Community Development
Owner-Adjacent Unit STR
Mayor Joseph A. CurtatoneCity of Somerville
Office of Strategic Planning& Community Development
Somerville resident offering a separate adjacent entire
dwelling:
An Operator may offer his or her Owner-Adjacent Unit as a
Short-Term Rental 365 days per year
Such Unit shall be rented to one party of Short-Term renters
at a time, not rented as separate bedrooms to separate
parties
Occupancy shall be limited to ten guests, or two guests per
bedroom, whichever is fewer
Mayor Joseph A CurtatoneOffice of Strategic Planning
& Community Development
Mayor Joseph A CurtatoneOffice of Strategic Planning
& Community Development
Not Allowed
Mayor Joseph A. CurtatoneCity of Somerville
Office of Strategic Planning& Community Development
• Somerville resident offering an entire place non-adjacent to their home and where they do not live
• A resident of some other city offering an entire place in Somerville that they do not live in
X
Mayor Joseph A CurtatoneOffice of Strategic Planning
& Community Development
Mayor Joseph A CurtatoneOffice of Strategic Planning
& Community Development
Additional STR Guidelines
Mayor Joseph A. CurtatoneCity of Somerville
Office of Strategic Planning& Community Development
o Local Contact: Operator must provide a contact able to respond in person to any issues or emergencies that arise during the Short-Term Rental within two (2) hours of being notified.
o Owner Permission: An Operator must certify at the time of registration that he or she has the following permissions to offer his or her Residential Unit as a Short-Term Rental.
o Rental Period and Use: Renting for an hourly rate, or for rental durations of fewer than ten (10) consecutive hours shall not be permitted. Commercial meetings and uses are prohibited in Short-Term Rentals.
City of SomervilleZoning AmendmentCity of SomervilleCity of SomervillePlanning Division
Short-term RentalsPresentation
www.somervillema.gov/strs
11/15/2018
top related