HAMILTON COUNTY, Tenn. — Hamilton County property owners now have specific rules about when, where and how they can rent to vacationers short-term.
That’s after Hamilton County Commissioners approved the proposed ordinance at their meeting on Wednesday:
Here’s a closer look at the rules now in effect for all properties in Hamilton County that are not inside Chattanooga city limits (including unincorporated areas):
- Short-term vacation rentals (STVRs) are allowed in any zone in Hamilton County except for manufacturing zones.
- Rules restrict how many people could stay in a home based on its number of bedrooms. For example, there is a 14-person limit for a home with 5 bedrooms.
- Any home must have a sign posted at the front of its property showing a STVR certificate, along with the phone number of the owner or manager of the property. That person needs to be able to respond to a phone call within 2 hours.
- There will be a list of approved STVRs sent to the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office, so they will know it’s a rental if and when deputies respond to the address.
- Occupants of STVRs aren’t allowed to make loud noises from the property between the hours of 10 p.m. and 7 a.m.
- All pets at a STVR need to be kept on a leash if they are outside.
The Hamilton County Attorney would take any violations of these rules to court. Those with violations would lose their license to be a STVR for a year, after which they can apply for a license again.
Commissioner Joe Graham said…
“We are hoping to put enough rules and regulations in place that it addresses all of the neighbors’ concerns like parking, dogs, loud noises, fireworks all the different things.”
Some Commissioners did try to add more transparency to the process, letting residents voice concerns before new rentals were approved, but that idea didn’t make it through.
Online records with the Regional Planning agency show there are currently 31 homes registered for short-term vacation rentals in Hamilton County.
Sale Creek resident Steve Roark claims his neighbor owns a STVR where he is often disrupted by loud noises and alcohol bottles thrown into his yard.
“This is every weekend. You know, we moved out here for the peace and quiet. We’re not getting it,” says Roark. “I don’t want that in my neighborhood.”
We did speak with the homeowners of that STVR who stated they have not gotten any complaints, do not condone partying, and that the family occupied the home the majority of the time.
They also said that they do agree with the new county STVR regulations as they have been asking that of their renters already.
But the neighbor says he still is against the idea.
“That’s the problem renting these, you don’t know what’s going on,” says Roark.
After speaking with some of those community members who are pushing for stricter STVR regulations, they say that they do plan on appealing the county’s decision.
The Chattanooga City Council is also working to hammer out its own plan for STVRs in the city of Chattanooga.
But that effort is currently stalled, after a vote on an ordinance failed to pass last month.