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After tabling a second reading of the long-planned ordinance to regulate Short Term Rentals (STR)within the city, the LaGrange City Council has approved a substitute ordinance with a few changes inspired by comments from the public.

On Oct. 8, after more than two years of ongoing discussion, the city held a first reading of the ordinance to permit and establish regulations on STRs. After pushback from citizens during a subsequent public hearing, the council made several changes to the first proposed ordinance.

The substitute ordinance added a requirement for a Special Use Permit (SUP) for any new STRs, which will require a public hearing. 

The new ordinance will also limit the number of new STRs permitted each year to five per year once the baseline is set. Current STRs will need to register within 60 days and show that they have already been in operation to be a part of the initial group of rentals that are grandfathered in. Then, only five per year will be allowed moving forward. 

The city believes there are around a dozen STRs currently in operation in LaGrange.

The council stopped short of limiting the total number of STRs in the city, as had been suggested as an option.

Most of the original proposed ordinance remains the same, including exhaustive regulations on STRs to protect the residential neighborhoods where they are located.

The regulations include limiting the number of persons in and parking at the homes, requiring a 24-hour point of contact to respond to issues, and establishing a method to revoke the permits if rules are repeatedly ignored, among many others.

While many residents might not be happy with STRs in their neighborhoods, the new ordinance is at least a step forward in regulating them. The city previously had no regulations separating renting one’s home, whether by the month or the day.