Construction / Zoning / Permits

[Holly Barrett]

Hello All - I'm in a pickle.

Have any of you worked a primary residence construction with the intent of also having a short term rental on the premises?

Here's what I'm running into.

Land is zoned Residential Agricultural.

County allows for a detached 'guest quarters', but it's defined as **not to be used for any sort of income**

However, they don't fact check that or anything, it's written in there, but it's not in their wheelhouse to verify how you use that going forward.

Then you go to the Short Term Rental permitting side, they basically say "you need to just rent a room out in your house" - what? Even though, there isn't anything in their ordinance that prohibits renting out another structure on the property with the propert elements.

So here I am trying to get clarification so we can move forward on architectural drawings and I really can't get a straight answer from these guys.

People do long term rentals ALL the time in basement garages and mother in law suites, etc, but apparently that's not really legal..?

Anyone have experience navigating these murky waters?

[Holly Barrett]

Thanks for all your replies :)

I'm a realtor and have been very involved in the recent STR ordinance governmental meetings here as of late, so I've been having these conversations w/the various county folk - I must say it's been eye opening watching how these rules are created with a)not a clear understanding of what they are actually passing and the overall impacts; b)lack of due diligence in research; c)no means of enforcement. I like to follow rules, but I'm starting to see why so many just don't poke the bear in some cases, truthfully these officials themselves don't really want/need to know EVERYTHING.

That said, after informing the STR ordinance enforcer of what the zoning/permit rep told me, which is basically despite the language they have no way of tracking that nor do they really care, she only cares about setbacks, etc. not usage, the STR ordinance enforcer told me that they would give us a permit to use one of my options as an STR.

HOORAY!!! 
Navigating local ordinances are not for the faint of heart!