MEDINA, Ohio – After months of discussion, council has approved legislation that will place general regulations on short-term rentals within the city.
Council unanimously approved an ordinance that calls for multiple changes to the city’s zoning code including regulations for short-term rentals.
“These were reviewed by planning commission in July and were unanimously recommended for approval and a public hearing was held in October by council,” Community Planning Director Andrew Dutton said.
No one spoke in favor or against the proposed regulations during the public hearing in October. Council had three readings of the legislation during October and November meetings to give the public an opportunity to submit comments or ask questions. The body officially approved the legislation Nov. 25.
Dutton said city officials researched the regulations for short-term rentals in other municipalities as there are currently a number of short-term rental properties in Medina near the historic district. He said that many other communities have very specific regulations that include a registration process, but Medina officials chose to implement more general rules for short-term rentals.
Under these new regulations, short-term rentals are permitted in the C2 commercial district and the MU district. They are also conditionally allowed in R2 and R3 residential districts that are located within 4,000 feet of the center of town. Dutton said that all of the short-term rentals in Medina are located within these boundaries so none of the current short-term rentals are violating these regulations.
Regulations also call for a minimum number of parking spaces and a maximum occupancy depending on the number of bedrooms. Hosting events at short-term rentals is also prohibited.