Riverside directs Planning & Zoning to study owner-occupied short-term rentals in multifamily buildings
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Summary
After a staff review and public testimony, the board asked the Planning & Zoning Commission to further examine allowing short-term (30 days or less) rentals in residential zoning where the owner lives on-site (duplexes or small multifamily), including consideration of special-use procedures and notification requirements.
Director Siren summarized a request from a duplex owner to allow vacation (short-term) rentals in residential districts. Under current code, vacation rentals (30 days or less) are prohibited in residential districts and allowed in business districts by special use; bed-and-breakfasts are allowed in residential districts with a special use but require owner presence and breakfast provision.
Siren told trustees that the Planning & Zoning Commission previously considered a similar request and that four of five commissioners recommended not allowing vacation rentals in residential districts, citing prior public opposition (about 300 residents signed a petition) and concerns about neighborhood transience, enforcement burdens, and a lack of demonstrated demand. The staff presentation noted no licensed vacation rentals or bed-and-breakfasts currently exist in the village.
Property owner Maria Bernardi spoke in favor of a regulated option, saying an owner-occupied duplex could be responsibly managed and provide lodging for visiting family and event guests. Trustees discussed options including limiting the allowance to owner-occupied duplexes or multifamily buildings and reworking the bed-and-breakfast definition; several trustees favored continuing study rather than immediately reversing the prior Planning & Zoning recommendation.
By consensus the board asked Planning & Zoning to continue review, specifically to explore a narrow allowance for owner-occupied multifamily or two-family properties (owner resides on-site) and to consider special-use procedures, notification requirements (staff suggested a 500-foot notice), guest limits, and enforcement controls. No code changes were adopted at the Nov. 6 meeting.