Short-term rental ordinance gets first reading
The Ellijay City Council approved raising the city’s hotel-motel tax, while also giving a first reading of a previously stalled short-term rental ordinance, during its first meeting of the year Monday, Jan. 24.
Councilmembers Sandy Ott, Tom Crawford, Kevin Pritchett, Katie Lancey and Al Fuller voted in favor of increasing the city’s hotel-motel tax from 5 to 8 percent. A local legislative act for the proposed increase must now go before the Georgia General Assembly.
The council’s action follows a recent decision by the Gilmer Board of Commissioners to introduce similar legislation for raising the county’s hotel-motel tax to 8 percent.
The tax is paid by anyone staying at a hotel, motel or short-term rental. If higher than 5 percent, a portion of the tax revenue can be dedicated to special tourism enhancement projects in the city or county that collects the tax.
Approval of the 3 percent increase came without any opposition or public comment, as did the first reading of the short-term rental ordinance.
If passed, that ordinance will be used to govern the operation of short-term or vacation rentals inside the city limits with such requirements as licensing for operators of short-term rentals. The license costs $1,000, and applicants must apply and pay the fee each year.
The ordinance also states that properties in R1 residential zoning districts used as short-term rentals as of the date of the ordinance, or which are under contract with Airbnb or similar entities, may continue with that use until June 30. The appropriate permits and licenses must be obtained in order to continue operating past that date.
The short-term rental ordinance had previously reached its second reading at an August 2021 city council meeting, but wasn’t adopted. The item died due to lack of a motion after extensive public comment from short-term rental owners and others.
No action was required upon the ordinance’s first reading. A second reading and voting should occur at the February city council meeting.
In other news ...
A zoning change from general commercial to R1 residential was approved for property at 28 Old Highway 5 North.
A setback variance was approved for property located 66 Skyline Drive.
Council members approved the appointment of Arnetta Powell as Ellijay’s resident housing authority commissioner for one term ending Dec. 31.
The first reading of an ordinance regulating the sale of distilled spirits for off-premise consumption was removed from the agenda due to the ordinance not being completed.