Ashland, Ore. — A near unanimous vote by the Ashland City Council finally trying to get a handle on local residents renting rooms to tourists. The ordinance, which passed Tuesday night, will still need to be approved again before becoming law. It allows people in designated areas to rent out one or two bedrooms to a single family with one car only.
The idea to expand what is now deemed “Accessory Accommodations” first began when licensed hotels and bed and breakfast inns complained that home owners were renting-rooms to travelers. Since they weren’t required to pay a ten percent lodging tax, businesses were upset.
Ashland City Councilor, Rich Rosenthal was the lone -no- vote at Tuesday nights meeting,”You really want to be able to afford the community that you live in, and this is a force that will make it more difficult to live in.” Rosenthal explained.
“It’s a cheaper way to stay in Ashland, or anywhere else,”Ashland City Councilor, Pam Marsh said, who motioned the vote, says the lucrative practice of renting out a room for a few nights in trade for some fast cash is a positive but warns potential renters will now have some hoops to jump through first. Marsh explained some of the requirements they’re expecting,”We’re going to require a conditional use permit which is gonna cost a thousand bucks and we’re gonna require they pay taxes, so there’s gonna be some overhead on that.”
Residents we spoke with say regardless the demand is there.
“When I’m a tourist somewhere, I prefer the RBO, I prefer to rent somebody’s house.” exclaimed one Ashland resident
Another resident, Charlotte Wilson says, “I think what people do with their own home is their business and if they want to invite a guest over for a night that’s their business.”
While opinions vary, everyone seems to agree on one thing.”It’s a very popular idea around the country and around the world.” Marsh said.
“Maybe it’s a minimal impact, I don’t know that” Rosenthal exclaimed.
How this ordinance plays out for the city and it’s people is still a huge unknown.
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