Commission reviews text amendment to restrict commercial short‑term rentals and clarify multifamily home‑occupation rules
Get AI-powered insights, summaries, and transcripts
Subscribe
Summary
Staff proposed a text amendment clarifying that home‑occupation short‑term rentals are allowed in individual multifamily units but that commercial short‑term rentals would be restricted in many residential zones and permitted in certain commercial zones; licensing and grandfathering of existing nonconforming units will be handled separately.
Athens‑Clarke County planning staff presented a text amendment to the short‑term rental ordinance aimed at two goals: clarifying the home‑occupation short‑term rental definition so that individual units in multifamily housing can apply administratively, and revising where commercial short‑term rentals (owner not living on site; purely commercial use) are allowed.
Under the proposal, multifamily occupants could apply for a home‑occupation short‑term rental permit administratively if they are the owner or an occupant; commercial short‑term rentals would continue to be allowed in commercial zones but would not be permitted in RS (single‑family) zones and would be disallowed in RM zones except through a home‑occupation route. The proposal would also remove commercial short‑term rentals from sections of AR zoned neighborhoods that are platted subdivisions. Staff emphasized registration/licensing and any sunset rules for legal nonconforming STRs would be handled later.
Commissioners asked for clearer explanatory materials and for staff to provide a concise guide to zoning categories and permitted uses to help constituents understand the changes. The commission did not adopt the amendment at the agenda‑setting meeting; staff will return with finalized language and outreach materials.