Madison City Council continues debating regulations on short-term rentals

MADISON – Madison leaders are still debating changes that will bring regulations for short term rentals. During a work session last Wednesday, the Madison City Council addressed three major questions on short-term rentals (STR): Where? How many? How long?

The city council faces four options in answer to where to allow STRs. While the Madison Planning Commission voted 5-2 to allow short term rentals citywide, Director of Development Services Mary Beth Broeren presented three other options that could restrict STRs to either commercial adjacent areas, multi-family districts, or single-family districts.

In their vote, the planning commission recommended a cap on the number of STRs in the city. The current maximum number of STRs allowed is 65-150, but the council also mulled over expanding the cap by a percentage or eliminating the cap altogether. Another option, prohibiting STRs in the future was also considered.

“We have them today, and so what we’re looking [at] is how do we best regulate this, and I think the controls you put in place, the ordinance, security standards, everything, all the thoughtfulness that have gone into this, it’s going to best capture what’s happening today and how do we manage it going forward,” commented District 2 councilman David Bier. Bier recommended a .75% increase of the current cap.

“The cow’s already out of the barn. They’re already existing. Let’s grab hold of it, regulate it, and control the situation,” added council president Maura Wroblewski.

District 7 councilman Kenneth Jackson opposed allowing STRs, citing city survey results and public comments showing public opposition: “I doubt that most residents want to risk their peace even temporarily for tax revenues.”

In answering the third question, the council considered defining the length of short-term rental as 30 days, 60 days, 90 days, or 180 days.

A proposed ordinance suggested requirements for operation of STRs, such as, an annual licensing and permitting renewal with mandatory building inspection, a local contact person 21 years of age or older, available 24/7 and on-site within 30 minutes of a city complaint, STR owner notifying adjacent property owners of the STR, and the STR cannot be used for parties, events, or food service.

The city council will discuss the issue again on June 22.