TONIGHT: Public Hearing for Legalizing Short Term Rentals In Beacon - The Discussion Reopens

Discussion of the use of a Short Term rental was reopened tonight during the City Council meeting in the form of a Public Hearing. This Short Term rental would be viewed in a similar way that there is an Accessory Use in a residential home. The Mayor emphasizes that this would require permit and inspection, but would legalize Short Term rentals, and would be allowed in all zoning districts.

Important to note is that as proposed, they would be owner occupied. If there was an Accessory Apartment on the property of a home, the Accessory Apartment would not be available as a Short Term rental. A tenant who uses an apartment as their primary residence would also be eligible to rent out that property as a short term rental. The proposed legislation does not require that the owner be present at the time of the rental. There are many other points of detail in the legislation, that you can read about here.

The inspection was the major linchpin last year when this almost got voted to be legalized. Since that time, the assistant Building Inspector, Dave Buckley, is now the lead Building Inspector, and at a City Council meeting this year, he presented why he interpreted the inspection requirement to be different and more affordable to achieve by building owners.

All of the details about this Public Hearing can be found at the City’s Website here.

Backstory of this issue in Beacon can be found in A Little Beacon Blog’s coverage here. “The property being owner occupied would be the only way the City Council is considering passing this,” concured Councilperson Air Rhodes.

Watch it live here on the city’s new YouTube Channel.

UPDATE: This Public Hearing has been adjourned to June 1, 2020 so that the City Council can Workshop it first. “Workshopping” means to discuss it among themselves. This means there is another opportunity for a Public Hearing.