Government-sponsored extortion, Sevier County style

[Collin Hays]

Recently, Sevier County TN commissioners voted to require a "permit" for all short-term rentals in the county, "to ensure that all short-term rental units in Sevier County meet minimum safety standards."  Of course, there is a fee for this, $250 and up, depending on the size of the dwelling.  This covers about 6,000 dwellings in the county.  This is from $1.5 to 2 million in new-found money for the county.  

The safety standard requirements were posted, yet they raised a lot more questions than they answered.  We have been working through the applications for our affected homeowners, and have had to call the county several times for clarifications.  Yesterday, one of our representatives was asking for specifics on fire extinguishers, and the county representative confessed:  "Look, just do the best you can.  There's no way we are going to be able to inspect most of these cabins - we just need the application and the money."  

I at least applaud the county for being truthful.