HomeMy WebLinkAbout128 - 09/19/2017 - AMENDING THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS LAND USE CODE SHORT TERM RENTAL REGULATIONS ORDINANCE NO. 128, 2017
OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS
AMENDING THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS LAND USE CODE
SHORT TERM RENTAL REGULATIONS
WHEREAS, on December 2, 1997, by its adoption of Ordinance No. 190, 1997, the City
Council enacted the Fort Collins Land Use Code (the "Land Use Code"); and
WHEREAS, at the time of the adoption of the Land Use Code, it was the understanding
of staff and the City Council that the Land Use Code would most likely be subject to future
amendments, not only for the purpose of clarification and correction of errors, but also for the
purpose of ensuring that the Land Use Code remains a dynamic document capable of responding
to issues identified by staff, other land use professionals and citizens of the City; and
WHEREAS, Land Use Code regulations regarding the renting of dwelling units for
periods of less than thirty days ("Short Term Rental" or "Short Term Rentals") were adopted on
second reading by Council on March 21, 2017, concurrently with Short Term Rental licensing
regulations adopted into Chapter 15 of the Code of the City of Fort Collins; and
WHEREAS, subsequent to the adoption of the Short Term Rental regulations, the need
has arisen for an extension of the date by which Short Term Rental operators may obtain City tax
licenses in order to be deemed a lawful nonconforming use; and
WHEREAS, such an extension was discussed at the July 11, 2017, Council work session
and City staff was directed to prepare amendments for Council consideration; and
WHEREAS, the Fort Collins Planning and Zoning Board at its August 17, 2017, regular
meeting considered the proposed amendments to the Short- Term Rental regulations and
recommended that Council:
1. Not extend the date by which Short Term Rental operators may obtain City tax
licenses on a 5-2 vote;
2. Not allow renters of Short Term Rentals to operate Short Term Rentals deemed to be
lawful nonconforming uses on a 5-2 vote; and
3. Allow abutting dwelling units to be considered as primary Short Term Rentals on a 4-
3 vote.
WHEREAS, pursuant to Colorado Revised Statute §31-23-301, the City has been
specifically granted the power to regulate-the use of buildings for trade, industry, residence, or
other purposes for the purposes of promoting health,_safety, morals, or the general welfare of the
community; and
WHEREAS, Council is concurrently considering similar amendments to the Short Term
Rental licensing regulations adopted into the Code of the City of Fort Collins.
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NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF, THE CITY OF
FORT COLLINS as follows:
Section 1. That the City Council hereby makes and, adopts the determinations and
findings contained in the recitals set forth above.
Section 2. The Land Use Code changes adopted herein are in the best interests of the
citizens of Fort Collins and are adopted for the purposes of promoting the health, safety, morals,
and general welfare of the community.
Section 3. That Section 3.2.2(K) of the Land Use Code is hereby amended to read as
follows:
3.2.2 - Access, Circulation and Parking
(K) Parking Lots-Required Number of Off-Street Spaces for Type of Use.
(k) Short term non-primary rentals and short term primary rentals: The minimum
number of off-street parking spaces required are as follows:
Number of Bedrooms Rented Number of Off-Street Parking Spaces
1-2 1
3-4 2
5-6 3
The number of additional off-street parking spaces required for more than six (6)
bedrooms rented shall be calculated in the same manner used in the above chart (e.g. 7-8
bedrooms rented requires four(4) off-street parking spaces).
Short term rentals licensed pursuant to the Code of the City of Fort Collins § 15-646 and
for which the license application was submitted prior to October 31, 2017, are exempt
from compliance with these parking requirements so long as such license remains
continuously valid. Subsequent licenses issued pursuant to § 15-646 shall comply with
these parking requirements.
Section 4. That Section 3.8.34 of the Land Use Code is hereby amended to read as
follows:
3.8.34 - Short Term Rentals
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(F) Nonconforming Use. A dwelling unit utilized as a short term primary or non-primary
rental that is located in a zone district where such use is prohibited, and such short term
rental was a lawfully established use as defined in (3) below, is deemed to be a
nonconforming use. Such nonconforming use shall correspond to the type (either primary
or non-primary) of short term rental conducted prior to March 31, 2017.
(1) In addition to complying with the -nonconforming use regulations in Land Use
Code Division 1.5, the owner of the dwelling unit must obtain a license pursuant
to the Code of the City of Fort Collins § 15-646 and continuously maintain such
license to maintain nonconforming use status. Failure to apply for such license by
October 31, 2017, shall be considered abandonment of the nonconforming use.
Should such license be revoked, not be renewed, or lapse for any period of time;
the nonconforming short term rental use shall be considered abandoned or
otherwise terminated.
(3) To be deemed a lawful use, a dwelling unit must have been actually utilized as a
short term primary or non-primary rental prior to March 31, 2017, and valid sales
and use and lodging tax licenses for such dwelling unit must have been obtained
prior to October 31, 2017, in accordance with Chapter 25, Art. IV, of the Code of
the City of Fort Collins.
Section 5. That the definition "Short term primary rental" contained in Section 5.1.2
of the Land Use Code is hereby amended to read as follows:
Short lean primary rental shall mean a dwelling unit that is a primary residence of
which a portion is leased to one (1) party at a time for periods of less than thirty (30)
consecutive days. The term party as used in this definition shall mean one (1) or more
persons who as a single group rent a, short term primary rental pursuant to a single
reservation and payment. A carriage house that is not a primary residence is eligible to
be a short term primary rental if it is located on a lot containing a primary residence. A
dwelling unit of a two-family dwelling that is not a primary residence is eligible to be a
short term primary rental if the connected dwelling unit is a primary residence and both
dwelling units are located on the same lot. The term short term primary rental shall not
include the rental of a dwelling unit to the former owner immediately following the
transfer of ownership of such dwelling unit and prior to the former owner vacating the
dwelling unit. Short term primary rental is a distinct use from short term non-primary
rental under the Land Use Code.
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Introduced, considered favorably on first reading, and ordered published this 5th day of
September, A.D. 2017, and to be presented for final passage on the 19th day of September, A.D.
2017.
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Passed and adopted on final reading on the 19th day of September, A.D. 2017.
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