Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
18 <br /> 1 Specifically, we are alerting the Board of County Commissioners to the fact that many of <br /> 2 Orange County's hospitality owners and operators are currently working with Chapel Hill and <br /> 3 Carrboro elected and staff leaders to regulate non-host occupied dwellings of Airbnb (also <br /> 4 known as Short Term Rentals) to operate in the towns' limits. <br /> 5 <br /> 6 To this end, we ask the Orange County Board carefully consider the amendment which <br /> 7 states: <br /> 8 New definition of the various categories of Short-Term Rental... "allows non-host occupied <br /> 9 dwellings which provide guestrooms for overnight rental or lease but is not occupied by a host." <br /> 10 <br /> 11 With the rise of AirBnB and other online rental platforms, regulation has become a complex and <br /> 12 evolving issue for local governments. While many imagine that this is an issue for larger cities <br /> 13 or tourist destinations, there are in fact over 2,700 U.S. cities and counties with more than 50 <br /> 14 short-term rental (STR) listings. <br /> 15 In Orange County we currently have 300 short-term rental listings, but the number grows <br /> 16 exponentially each year. In 2018, it is estimated that these Short Term Rentals generated $9 <br /> 17 million in revenues in Orange County. Many of these dwellings hosted visitors in private <br /> 18 homes, apartment complexes and dwellings that are not obliged to follow the same inspections <br /> 19 that traditional Orange County accommodations are required to follow. <br /> 20 Private residences generally are not held to the same safety standards. For instance, that are <br /> 21 no requirements for sprinkler systems or handicapped access, as there are with commercial <br /> 22 rentals, as well as emergency exit directions, emergency lighting and fire doors. <br /> 23 <br /> 24 The Short Term Rental Industry is a threat to the local rental market and to traditional hotels as <br /> 25 well. <br /> 26 <br /> 27 A coordinated group of hotels, Chapel Hill/Carrboro Chamber members and various tourism <br /> 28 leaders are working to develop a policy recommendation to the Town of Chapel Hill and the <br /> 29 Town of Carrboro. We would like to share that recommendation to the BOCC and county staff <br /> 30 as soon as it is completed. We anticipate finishing our draft very soon. <br /> 31 <br /> 32 It's important to note that this group doesn't oppose "true home sharing," — a traditional dwelling <br /> 33 attached to a main home, for instance. Rather it objects to rental property used exclusively for <br /> 34 short-term stays. <br /> 35 <br /> 36 We understand this issue is a divisive issue for many communities. There are persuasive <br /> 37 arguments on both sides. While some celebrate the additional income for residents as a boon <br /> 38 to the local economy, others fear the degradation of their neighborhoods and lack of affordable <br /> 39 housing. <br /> 40 <br /> 41 In summary, we hope our elected boards will recognize that hotels employ dozens of local <br /> 42 workers to provide housekeeping, reception, concierge services, kitchen-hands. Without them, <br /> 43 the entire industry would grind to a halt. <br /> 44 Providing local workers with jobs is critically important; providing visitors with safe places to stay <br /> 45 is equally important. And working together as a county to support a level playing field is an <br /> 46 ethos that Orange County has always worked to achieve. <br /> 47 <br /> 48 Thank you for considering modifying this text amendment to Short Term Rentals. <br /> 49 <br />