The ordinance, which is expected to be voted on at a meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 8, was first introduced in January and is intended to “protect the public health, safety and well-being of vacation and short-term rental property owners and users” while “supporting the residential character” of neighborhoods outside of Flagstaff, Sedona, Page and Williams.

Arizona does not allow county leaders to outright ban private lodging. Nor can rules be set for the same property within the city limits of communities like Flagstaff and Williams.

Until recently, neither counties nor local governments had the ability to restrict or regulate the operation of short-term rentals such as VRBO and Airbnb in their areas.it was until it passed Arizona Senate Bill 1168.

“Generally, I think local government is the best place to make decisions about local issues. “It’s unfortunate that there was a ban. I think decisions like this are best made at the community level.”

Now, below Arizona Revised Act 11-267.17, Counties can set several parameters for short-term rental owners in their area.

“This is the result of our contact with Congress to express our concerns about the lack of regulatory authority over short-term rentals,” District 3 Superintendent Matt Ryan said in January. “Although limited, we have a very important tool to promote voluntary compliance and encourage people to be good neighbors.”

Horstmann said the commission and county officials considered other municipal regulatory efforts when developing the wording of the ordinance, which was introduced in January.

“If there is some continuity and consistency in how the law is interpreted, I think residents will feel better,” Horstmann said.

She calls the ordinance, which will be read out for the third time in August, common sense regulations, a set of rules that require short-term rental owners and operators to be “good neighbors.”

“I would like to believe that this is reasonable and reasonable, and I would like to believe that it will have a lot of support,” Horstmann said. “I’m really proud of this ordinance … We basically require short-term rentals to comply with basic land use. These are single-family residential neighborhoods.

If the ordinance is passed in August, short-term rental owners will only be able to “accept” guests who use the space as a temporary family residence.

The draft language defines “family” as individuals related by blood, marriage, kinship, or legal adoption/guardianship.

Under the new ordinance, no more than five unrelated people will be allowed to rent short-term vacation rentals in Coconino County.

“Most of the short-term rentals are for families and related people. These usually coincide with single-family residential neighborhoods,” Horstmann said. “This ordinance will allow us to address a notable minority of people who violate the concept of living in a single-family residential neighborhood.”

Mr Horstmann said he had heard from neighbors about the problems with short-term rentals for “party houses” and events before he was elected.

“These short-term rental properties are not owner-occupied, owners do not live on the property and, in many cases, do not live in Coconino County. [the rental] It was used for large parties and events,” Horstmann said. “So our single-family home community had problems with noise, parking, trash and traffic.”

The proposed ordinance directly targets short-term rentals once used for events such as weddings and bachelor parties, and states:

“Vacation or short-term rental properties may not be used for non-residential purposes, including, but not limited to, special events, multi-family temporary stays, or land use or group gatherings that require a special or temporary county use permit, county health law license, or any other regulatory license or permit required pursuant to county ordinance or state law or regulation.”

Horstmann said the draft ordinance is also intended to address residents’ complaints about absentee owners.

When the new rules go into effect, all new and existing short-term rental owners will be required to register their property’s contact information and have a 24/7 contact on file.

“That’s very important. A lot of problems arise when you can’t get in touch with the property owner. Now we have a contact person in case of a breach,” Horstmann said. “We are concerned about fires and fire regulations. We have had situations where we are under fire regulations. Under Tier 2 fire regulations, short-term renters may have bonfires in their backyards.

Horstmann said the communication will also make parking easier during heavy snowstorms and help keep minpaku guests out of the way of residents and snowplow equipment.

Contact information is not the only document new and existing property owners must provide to the county. You will also need to apply for a permit or license to legally operate a short-term rental.

Neighbors must also be notified of their intentions before short-term rental owners are allowed.

Permit fees under state law may not exceed $250. Property owners who list their homes on sites like Airbnb and VRBO without obtaining a permit can face an initial fine of $1,000.

If the property owner does not renew their permit or apply for a permit, they owe the county an additional $1,000 for each time they continue to operate. Penalties for failing to register emergency contacts follow the same fee structure.

If the owner of the property intentionally allowed parties or weddings to be held within the rental property, if the owner knowingly harbored sex offenders, or had knowledge that the owner was conducting adult business or prostitution on the property, the permit could be revoked entirely. A permit may also be revoked if a felony has been committed on the rental property or if the rental property has recorded three or more minor violations of the rules of the ordinance.

Some residents have expressed concern over the new ordinance’s enforcement on social media.

One Cheshire resident wrote on a neighborhood social media app that “without the resources to enforce the ordinances, these ordinances will be thwarted.”

Horstmann said the county is working to punish violations and hopes to develop fair and reasonable due process.

“We need effective enforcement.

The ordinance sets out a process for receiving, investigating and litigating complaints against vacation rental owners, but Horstmann said the board would like to hear more from the community. The meeting will be held virtually and oral comments will be heard before the August 8 vote. Written public comments may be submitted at least 24 hours prior to the meeting, emailed to Jess McNeely at wmcneely@coconino.az.gov, or mailed to Coconino County Community Development, Planning and Zoning Division, 2500 N. Fort Valley Road, Building #1, Flagstaff, AZ 86001.