Cook County is now officially concerned with the regulation and oversight of excursion leases thru a selected ordinance. During a meeting of the Cook County Board of Commissioners (May 28), the board voted five-zero to adopt a vacation apartment ordinance. This follows a four-2 vote by the participants of the Cook County Planning Commission on May eight to approve the ordinance. In essence, the ordinance will provide oversight on how many quick-term rentals are working in Cook County, if they may be paying required expenses to perform legally, and a set of recommendations to monitor how the condominium homes operate under county regulations and policies. Land Services Director Tim Nelson said the ordinance is a culmination of many years of dialogue and effort concerning excursion rentals within the county.
The ordinance will formally pass into impact on Jan. 1, 2020. A key element is an annual registration charge paid to the county, which will legally operate a holiday condo. The charge, of which the exact fee is not blanketed within the ordinance’s language, applies to every individual short-term condominium in Cook County. The price according to the unit is probably to now not exceed $200, Nelson said. Once enacted, the ordinance may be in location for 3 years. The ordinance can be reviewed at that point, and the county will recollect extending it or taking another direction of motion about oversight of brief-term leases.
Local commercial enterprise owner Steve Surbaugh spoke in the course of the public remark length of Tuesday’s meeting. Surbaugh shared his issues approximately the holiday condominium ordinance the county is thinking about adopting. According to Surbaugh, the ordinance does nothing from an enforcement point of view regarding oversight of short-term rentals in Cook County. Also, talking Tuesday changed into Mike Larson, the co-proprietor of Cascade Vacation Rentals. Surbaugh and Larson are the co-proprietors of Cascade Vacation Rentals, a commercial enterprise that manages and markets short-term rentals in Cook County and along the North Shore.
Larson said the county would spend too many assets implementing the holiday apartment ordinance, which includes the price range spent outside the county’s doors. In addition, Larson believes there’s a negative perception within the public eye surrounding brief-term leases at the North Shore. Larson said the increase is not explosive within the holiday condominium industry in Cook County. It isn’t always out of manipulating, as was recommended in a few media stores in the country’s course. Nelson said it is understandable that there is a concern amongst individuals in the enterprise of managing quick-time period leases concerning this ordinance.
Going from having no rules to having any regulations is a large step,” Nelson said.
Regarding why the county would benefit from having a quick-time period apartment ordinance, Nelson said amassing facts is a key factor. These statistics include the full number of excursion rentals within the county and, if all are nicely following each country and neighborhood rules that variety from taxes to septic gadget necessities. And at the same time, as he acknowledged that a number of the oversight could be performed outdoor of the county, Nelson said the number of hours required using the county group of workers to oversee this ordinance could be approximately five hours consistent with the week.
Before taking a vote at the ordinance, Commissioner Bobby Deschamps said he feels the holiday-rental ordinance is “a terrific first step” toward oversight of this industry inside the county. Commissioner Heidi Doo-Kirk stated she feels the ordinance is a good way to quit fears and tension concerning the variety of brief-time period rentals. This can position an cease to the perception hassle,” Doo-Kirk stated.
Commissioner Myron Bursheim said he recognizes that the ordinance places a burden on some of the fast-time period rental homes in Cook County. That being the case, Bursheim stated the ordinance took time to put together and is a good plan for the county. Commissioner Dave Mills said he recognizes the significance of excursion leases in the county, along with their economic effect. At the same time, Mills stated he sees the ordinance as a terrific move in the direction of oversight of this enterprise.