BY MELISSA ENAJE & CASSANDRA JENKINS
Short-term rentals now prohibited in Bellaire After several residents expressed concerns with nearby short-term rentals in the city, Bellaire City Council tightened the regulations surrounding STRs—a move that included adding a new ordi- nance and limiting where they can operate. What’s changed? The city previously only required STR owners to obtain a certificate of occupancy, which, according to the American Legal Publishing website, is a legal document that certifies a building is safe to be occupied and is in compliance with building codes and zoning laws. Regulations now prohibit STRs in residential districts and give existing owners until March 17 to cease operations. City officials said the changes will affect about a dozen homeowners. Short-term rentals will still be permitted within mixed-use districts, subject to a permit process.
Ban approved on public sidewalk use In a unanimous decision Nov. 17, Bellaire City Council members voted to add a new section to an existing ordinance that regulates the use of streets, sidewalks and public places. A closer look According to the agenda item, the new section will prohibit the following activities
The short-term rental ordinance approved by Bellaire City Council also: Defines STRs and platforms Provides enforcement for owners, guests and platforms Establishes permit, renewal, appeal and revocation rules and procedures Declares STRs as a nuisance in residential districts due to incompatibility
SOURCE: CITY OF BELLAIRE/COMMUNITY IMPACT
on all public sidewalks in Bellaire: • The use of motorized vehicles • Placement of personal items • Sitting or lying down
What they’re saying Bellaire resident Jamie Perkins, who’s been living next door to a short-term rental property, said she is grateful for the new ordinance. “Aside from the typical standards, it brings addi- tional crime into the neighborhood,” she said. “It brings trash because [guests] don’t really care; it’s just a hotel to them. Loud partying. Noises. There was no regulation of this,... and it’s terrible.”
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