The Athens-Clarke County Commission recently passed an ordinance that will limit the types of short term rentals that can operate in residential areas. At today’s meeting, the Government Operations Committee reviewed that ordinance.
The local government will be partnering with a data service platform called Rentalscape to collect data on short term rentals operating in the area. Data will be received at the end of February and will then be analyzed by government employees to see which properties are in compliance with local code.
In addition to opportunities for data analysis, the committee reviewed a new proposal for a so-called relief valve. John Hawkins works in the county government’s Attorney’s Office.
“What that is in essence is an opportunity for people who have a short term rental who feel like the sunset provision of the ordinance does not provide them a full opportunity to recoup the investment that they made in their short term rental, it gives them an administrative means to basically seek an extension. It gives them an opportunity to recoup their investment,” he explained.
Hawkins stated that the county government needs more time to develop language and administrative processes for the relief valve provision.
The Government Operations Committee did not vote on revising the short term rental ordinance during today’s meeting.
