The Soddy Daisy City Commission has passed new regulations for short-term vacation rentals.
The ordinance passed unanimously on first reading, and no one spoke in opposition during the public hearing at the commission meeting Thursday. It is expected to pass on final reading at the commission's June 1 meeting.
A moratorium on new short-term vacation rental applications remains in effect until July 1.
Under the new rules, the application fee was increased from $300 to $500, and the renewal fee was increased from $100 to $200, Public Works Director Steve Grant told commissioners.
New safety requirements regarding sprinkler systems, fire alarms and limits for occupancy were also added, he said.
For example, properties must have hardwired or wireless interconnected fire alarms rather than using separate battery-powered alarms in different rooms.
"If you've got a smoke detector in the bedroom and one in the hall and one goes off ... somebody might not hear it, so they really need to be connected to some degree," Grant said.
Current permit holders who do not meet the requirements during their annual reinspection will need to bring their properties into compliance in order to renew their permits, Grant said.
The ordinance also allows city staff to permanently revoke a property's vacation rental permit if three police reports are filed for noise violations.
Mayor Steve Everett asked that city staff inform owners of existing short-term rentals of the new requirements before they go into effect.
The new regulations were developed at the request of Gene-o Shipley, a member of both the Soddy-Daisy and Hamilton County commissions, who suggested the two governments review their regulations for short-term rentals that aren't occupied by the owner.
"We had so many popping up illegally," Shipley said in September by phone, explaining the reason behind the request. "Neighbors were questioning whether we had any control over it."
In April, the Hamilton County Commission passed similar updates to its regulations.
The city of Chattanooga also OK'd new, revised regulations earlier this month.
Contact Emily Crisman at ecrisman@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6508.