When a proposed ordinance comes up that affects short-term rentals, it may be the first time many property owners interface with the local government. Knowing the terminology used in local government and the short-term rental industry can help you navigate these new waters more smoothly.
Local Government Terms
City council: The legislative body for a city.
Board: City boards are established pursuant to city charter or ordinance. A board is defined as “a group of persons having managerial, supervisory, or investigative powers.” Some boards related to city affairs include the public utility board, the library board of trustees, and the board of building appeals.
- Advisory Boards: Usually made up of citizen volunteers appointed by city council, advisory boards provide a citizen’s advice and perspective in accomplishing certain activities such as studying critical issues, hearing public testimony, conducting third-party research, and reviewing staff recommendations or reports.
- Administrative Boards: Sometimes a subset of an advisory board, administrative boards may have the authority to make actual or de facto decisions on behalf of the governing body or respond to appeals of a decision by the governing body.
City clerk: As the administrator of the legislative department, the city clerk provides public access to the city’s legislative process, local laws, and regulations, and is responsible for the preservation of the public record.
City manager: A professional chief executive hired by a city council to run the city’s daily operations.
Commission: A commission is a group of individuals directed to perform a certain role, such as the planning commission or the arts commission. Some city commissions may play a quasi-judicial role. City commissions are typically created through a city charter, ordinance, or resolution.
Committee: A committee consists of appointees charged with researching, considering, taking action on, or reporting on some issue. A city council typically forms committees with a resolution. The committee presents its recommendations to the city council or other appropriate body for action or review. A committee may have a specific, ongoing purpose or be of limited duration. Council members often sit on committees.
Consent Agenda: A consent agenda (also called a consent calendar) allows a legislative body like a city council to approve a list of items together without discussion or individual motions.
Ordinance: Local laws enacted by local governments, such as city councils or county commissions. They are used to govern matters that are specific to a particular jurisdiction and are not covered by state or federal laws. Ordinances are usually applied within a specific geographic area, such as a city, town, or municipality. They can cover a wide range of issues, including zoning regulations, noise restrictions, property maintenance standards, and local taxation.
Public comment: Comments submitted to councils, committees, and commissions on specific agenda items during public meetings. These may be written or live (in person or virtual).
Public hearing: An official meeting where members of the public hear information about a proposed government action and give their opinions. Public hearings often have a time limit for how long each person can speak.
Referendum: A decision referred to the electorate to answer a political question through a general vote.
Regulations: Rules that are typically established by administrative agencies or departments of the government. These agencies are given the authority to create regulations in order to implement and enforce laws passed by the legislative body (such as a parliament or congress). Regulations provide specific details, procedures, and requirements related to how a law should be carried out.
Rubber Stamp Meeting: A meeting that convenes with a predetermined outcome and during which an organization gives automatic approval or authorization to a proposal without proper consideration.
Task Force: A city task force is a temporary body appointed by the city council to accomplish a certain objective, such as studying or working on a particular problem. A task force often dissolves upon completion of its assigned task.
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Short-Term Rental Ordinances and Legislation
Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU): an independent dwelling space within a primary unit. These may be attached or detached, such as granny flats, mother-in-law suites, or guest houses.
By-Right: When STRs (or another activity or property use) is allowed without special permission
Conditional Use Permit (CUP): A conditional use permit allows a city or county through a public hearing process to consider special uses which are not allowed as a matter of right within a zoning district. This sometimes includes short-term rentals.
Grandfather clauses: An exemption that allows persons or entities to continue with activities or operations that were allowed before the enactment of new regulations or laws.
Ordinance: A law made by a local government.
Overlay Zone: An overlay zone is a special zoning district that is created and placed over an existing base zone or zones. The overlay comes with special provisions in addition to or in place of those in the underlying zone. The overlay can have the same boundaries as the underlying zone or straddle more than one base zone.
Preemption: Preemption means a higher level of government enacts a law to nullify or prohibit an ordinance at a lower level of government, such as a state preempting its municipalities.
Primary residence: The housing unit where someone lives for the majority of the year.
Scofflaw Violation: Someone who fails to comply with a law that is difficult to enforce effectively. In short-term rentals, this might be someone who operates without a permit when a permit is required or who doesn’t pay their occupancy taxes or lodging taxes.
Special Use Permit (SUP): A special use permit provides an exception for property to be used in a manner that deviates from zoning regulations and ordinances.
Zoning Ordinance: A municipal law that defines how property in specific geographic zones can be used.
Short-Term Rental Advocacy Terms
Grassroots: Grassroots advocacy describes collective action by people at the local level to effect a specific change.
Grasstops: Grasstops advocacy involves enlisting people in a position of power or influence at the local level to effect a specific change.
Letter to the editor (LTE): A letter submitted by a member of the public to a media publication. Usually around 150-250 words, that makes one point clearly and succinctly. In many situations, letters to the editor are an ideal venue to take issue with something that a publication has printed, to correct the record of something that was misrepresented, or to add a key point that was left out.
Lobbyist: Someone who uses lawful means to try to influence the decisions of government officials.
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU): A memorandum of understanding is a document describing an agreement to pursue a common line of action.
Nimbyism: Nimbyism is the practice of someone who opposes anything being built or done around where they live. The term stems from the acronym NIMBY, which stands for not in my backyard.
Op-Ed: Short for opposite the editorial, an op-ed is a written piece that presents a longer argument or position by someone unaffiliated with a publication’s editorial board. Publications are typically more likely to place an op-ed when the topic is currently relevant and covered by its writers. If you see a piece about short-term rentals in the news, it’s a good opportunity to submit an op-ed.
Short-Term Rental Industry Terms
Destination marketing organization (DMO): A destination marketing organization promotes a location as a travel destination. DMOs typically receive part or all of the revenue from lodging taxes on hotels and STRs. Often used interchangeably with convention and visitors bureau or tourism board.
Homeshare/Hosted Stay: The host is present on the property during the short-term rental activity. Most often refers to individual room rentals.
Occupancy Tax/Lodging Tax: Guests are charged an occupancy tax when they rent accommodations in a short-term rental, vacation home, hotel, or motel when their stay is less than 30 days.
Online travel agency (OTA): An online travel agency is a website that arranges and sells accommodation or other travel-related services.
Real Estate Agent: A professional who has a state license to assist consumers in buying or selling property.
REALTOR: A real estate agent earns the title of REALTOR when they join the National Association of REALTORS, whose code of ethics is separate from state requirements.
Unhosted Stay: The host is not present on the property during the short-term rental activity.
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