Proposed Laws Could Restrict College Park Short-Term Rentals

College Park Short-Term Rental Regulations Could Soon Change

College Park could soon see stricter regulations on short-term rental properties. During a city council meeting on Tuesday, council members expressed concerns about current short-term rental laws and discussed proposed regulations limiting rental days and requiring registration.

What are the current regulations?

College Park currently regulates short-term rentals and long-term rentals in the same way. There is no limit on the number of days a property can be rented out per year. This differs from Prince George's County law, which restricts short-term rentals to a maximum of 30 consecutive days.

The city also does not require registration or licensing of short-term rental properties. Without registration, city officials have no way of knowing exactly how many short-term rentals are operating in College Park. Instead, they rely on county records and neighborhood reports of suspected unregistered properties.

What new regulations were proposed?

To align with Prince George's County, one proposal would limit short-term rentals in College Park to 30 consecutive days. This would provide a clear distinction between short-term and long-term rentals.

Another proposal would require registration of all short-term rental properties with the city. Neighbors would also be allowed to object to applications, similar to a Montgomery County law. This could give residents more input on short-term rental operations in their neighborhoods.

Streamlining enforcement against unregistered properties was also a goal. Currently, it can take months to bring an unregistered owner to court. Clearer regulations could make it easier for the city to crack down on illegal rentals.

Why are new regulations needed?

Council members voiced concerns about problems with the current short-term rental regulations. A major issue is the lack of data on how many properties are operating as short-term rentals. Without registrations, the city has no way to track the number of Airbnbs and other rentals.

They also noted that some short-term rentals are illegally changing ownership without acquiring updated permits from the city. Stricter registration and enforcement rules could help prevent this.

In addition, council members worried that uncontrolled growth of short-term rentals could cause problems for neighborhoods. Limiting the number of rental days allowed and giving residents more say over applications might help address this.

What are the potential impacts?

If passed, the new regulations would likely reduce the number of short-term rentals allowed in College Park. Some landlords may be forced to switch to long-term leases or stop renting their properties.

The rules could also make it harder for UM students and others to sublet apartments for short periods around academic breaks. Sublets of less than 30 days may be considered illegal short-term rentals.

On the other hand, residents may appreciate more control over short-term rental concentrations in their neighborhoods. And the city could benefit from registration fees and taxes on these properties.

What's next for the regulations?

The proposals still need to be drafted into an ordinance and brought for a vote at an upcoming city council meeting. If passed, the city would then begin the process of implementing the new registration system, rental day limits, and other rules.

For now, city officials will likely continue gathering data and feedback on the potential impacts. But stricter short-term rental regulations seem likely for College Park in the near future.