Peer-to-peer home rentals to be regulated

By Anya Tikka
DINGMAN TOWNSHIP — Anyone thinking of jumping on the popular trend to rent their home to visitors will be regulated in Dingman.

Startups like Airbnb or HomeAway are tapped into the new "sharing economy," in which businesses do not provide services but only the technology that allows people to sell or trade goods and services to one another. Peer-to-peer home rentals are a big part of this new economy.

Dingman recently changed its zoning to regulate the practice in town. Supervisor’s Chair Tom Mincer at the June 2 township meeting it was a pre-emptive move.

“We’re trying to get ahead the curve,” he said at the township's June 2 meeting.

There have been some minor complaints, he said, but that was not the deciding factor.

“It’s also to do with occupancy," said Supervisor Dennis Brink. "I could have two or three people, but might bring in 10 to 12 people for a weekend. You don’t know who you’re going to rent your property to.”

Short-term visitors might not respect the community and its regulations, such as in a lake community, he said.

'A different kind of tenant'The new law comes under the Transient Residential Use code. A property owner renting accommodations for short stays must apply for a Certificate of Non-Conforming Use before Aug. 24 to retain the right to do so.

“These are residential areas, and these are not long-term rentals," Mincer said. "We have B&B’s in the township. They pay taxes and have to go through zoning applications. They have to be in a specific, commercial zone. We’re talking about a different kind of tenant. We need to take care of that.”

Township Solicitor John Klemeyer said the new law applies to rentals of 7 to 30 days.

Zoning and sewer enforcement officer Chris Wood said property owners known to do Web-based short-term rentals have already received notices about the new law. Mincer said they were discovered them through the Web.

“Fourteen letters went out to property owners known to have existing Transient Residential Uses," said Wood.

The township will not prohibit residents from using sites like Airbnb or HomeAway as long as they comply with township code.

He was not specific about what fines or other consequences would befall a property owner who violated the regulations.