Article 8 enforcement starts May 5
Last Wednesday, the Oro Valley Town Council approved a new ordinance, Article 8, that regulates short term rentals (STR). The ordinance must be complied by May 5, 2023. This is after a 30-day notice and a 60-day implementation period
The regulations apply to all STR
These are properties that are rented for 30 days or less. The properties include renting any of the following: The entire home, a room in the home, a guest house, or any other structure occupied by a short term renter. The ordinance must be complied by the owner of the property or any lessee who is renting the property as a STR.
The ordinance is essentially the same is that on which we reported in December. You can read more details of the ordinance here. The only change of substance relates to including specific code requirements regarding public health and safety ordinances; and property, maintenance and other nuisance issues.
The ordinance is essentially the same is that on which we reported in December. You can read more details of the ordinance here. The only change of substance relates to including specific code requirements regarding public health and safety ordinances; and property, maintenance and other nuisance issues.
There are two portions of the ordinance that are important to neighbors of an STR. One is that those closely adjacent to the STR will receive notice when an application is filed for an STR. This notice will occur on annual basis. We imagine, though it was not specifically stated at the meeting, that the neighbor can provide any concerns or objections to the STR to the “licensing administrator” for their consideration in approving a license.
The other portion of the ordinance that is important to neighbors regards reporting problems caused by the STR. Most of the fines that are going to be levied on an STR are going to be based on police reports, at least that’s our understanding. Thus, it would be best to file complaints with the Police Department so that they can be documented, investigated and processed. We are not sure that the licensing administrator has any authority or personnel to investigate alleged problems. In addition, the only continuing record of violations on a specific property is going to be based on police and court reports.
STR behavior is not a problem in Oro Valley. Ordinance should keep it that way.
The other portion of the ordinance that is important to neighbors regards reporting problems caused by the STR. Most of the fines that are going to be levied on an STR are going to be based on police reports, at least that’s our understanding. Thus, it would be best to file complaints with the Police Department so that they can be documented, investigated and processed. We are not sure that the licensing administrator has any authority or personnel to investigate alleged problems. In addition, the only continuing record of violations on a specific property is going to be based on police and court reports.
STR behavior is not a problem in Oro Valley. Ordinance should keep it that way.
There were seven reports filed with Oro Valley Police Department in 2022 regarding STR behavior. That would indicate that STR‘s are not causing a big problem in our community. This ordinance and the punitive measures that are provided Article 8 at should ensure that STR will not be a problem in the future.
- - -
