The city of Soddy-Daisy is extending until May 1 its moratorium on the acceptance of new short-term rental applications for properties not occupied by the owner.
Commissioners voted in October to enact the moratorium through March 30. No one spoke in opposition to the moratorium during the public hearings before the Oct. 6 and March 2 votes.
In September of last year Commissioner Gene-o Shipley requested that City Attorney Sam Elliott review the city’s short-term rental ordinance. At the time, only three or four short-term rentals were operating with permits in the city, according to minutes from the commission’s Sept. 19 meeting.
“We had so many popping up illegally,” Shipley said by phone, as to why he requested Elliott review the ordinance. “Neighbors were questioning whether we had any control over it.”
Once the city passed the moratorium Oct. 20, the city had a handful of people apply for permits before the moratorium went into effect 14 days later, Shipley said by phone.