Short-Term Rentals Ad Hoc Committee — Columbia, SC
Date: 2022-04-26
Time: 16:00

COLUMBIA SHORT-TERM RENTALS AD HOC COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA
 TUESDAY, APRIL 26, 2022


The Columbia Short-Term Rentals Ad Hoc Committee will conduct a meeting on Tuesday, April
26, 2022 at 4:00 p.m. at the Busby Street Community Center, 1735 Busby Street, Columbia, SC
29203. Members of the public are able to participate remotely by viewing the meeting online at
www.columbiasc.gov or via telephone by dialing 855-925-2801. When prompted, enter meeting
code: 5164. During the meeting: press *1 to listen; *2 to leave a message; or *3 to request to
speak. For questions regarding the meeting, please contact the City Clerk at (803)545-3045 or
cityclerk@columbiasc.gov.

Prior to entering the meeting please turn all electronic communication devices to the silent, vibrate or off
 position. All presenters are asked to speak directly into the microphone for recording purposes.

CALL TO ORDER
COMMITTEE DISCUSSION

1. Welcome and Introduction of Committee - The Honorable Howard E. Duvall, Jr., Chair

2. Overview of Short Term Rental Impact - Mr. Bill Ellen, Experience Columbia

3. Status Of Short Term Rental Industry - Mr. David Bergmann, Heartwood Furnished
 Homes

4. Overview of Draft Ordinance – Mr. David Hatcher, Housing Official / Columbia Police
 Department Code Enforcement Division

PUBLIC INPUT
ADJOURNMENT




 Page 1 of 1

COLUMBIA SHORT-TERM RENTALS AD HOC COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA
 TUESDAY, APRIL 26, 2022


The Columbia Short-Term Rentals Ad Hoc Committee will conduct a meeting on Tuesday, April
26, 2022 at 4:00 p.m. at the Busby Street Community Center, 1735 Busby Street, Columbia, SC
29203. Members of the public are able to participate remotely by viewing the meeting online at
www.columbiasc.gov or via telephone by dialing 855-925-2801. When prompted, enter meeting
code: 5164. During the meeting: press *1 to listen; *2 to leave a message; or *3 to request to
speak. For questions regarding the meeting, please contact the City Clerk at (803)545-3045 or
cityclerk@columbiasc.gov.

Prior to entering the meeting please turn all electronic communication devices to the silent, vibrate or off
 position. All presenters are asked to speak directly into the microphone for recording purposes.

CALL TO ORDER
COMMITTEE DISCUSSION

1. Welcome and Introduction of Committee - The Honorable Howard E. Duvall, Jr., Chair

2. Overview of Short Term Rental Impact - Mr. Bill Ellen, Experience Columbia

3. Status Of Short Term Rental Industry - Mr. David Bergmann, Heartwood Furnished
 Homes

4. Overview of Draft Ordinance – Mr. David Hatcher, Housing Official / Columbia Police
 Department Code Enforcement Division

PUBLIC INPUT
ADJOURNMENT




 Page 1 of 1
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MEETING DATE: April 26, 2022

DEPARTMENT: City Clerk

FROM: Erika Hammond, City Clerk

SUBJECT: Welcome and Introduction of Committee - The Honorable
 Howard E. Duvall, Jr., Chair
FUNDING SOURCE &
ORIGINAL BUDGET:

FOCUS AREAS: Enhancing Columbia's Neighborhoods, Innovative & High
 Quality Municipal Services, Planning Together




Updated: 4/22/2022 4:51 PM Page 1
 Packet Pg. 2
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MEETING DATE: April 26, 2022

DEPARTMENT: City Clerk

FROM: Erika Hammond, City Clerk

SUBJECT: Overview of Short Term Rental Impact - Mr. Bill Ellen,
 Experience Columbia
FUNDING SOURCE &
ORIGINAL BUDGET:

FOCUS AREAS: Enhancing Columbia's Neighborhoods, Innovative & High
 Quality Municipal Services, Planning Together




Updated: 3/28/2022 12:27 PM Page 1
 Packet Pg. 3
 3




MEETING DATE: April 26, 2022

DEPARTMENT: City Clerk

FROM: Erika Hammond, City Clerk

SUBJECT: Status of Short Term Rental Industry - Mr. David Bergmann,
 Heartwood Furnished Homes
FUNDING SOURCE &
ORIGINAL BUDGET:

FOCUS AREAS: Enhancing Columbia's Neighborhoods, Innovative & High
 Quality Municipal Services, Planning Together




Updated: 4/19/2022 11:44 AM Page 1
 Packet Pg. 4
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MEETING DATE: April 26, 2022

DEPARTMENT: City Clerk

FROM: Erika Hammond, City Clerk

SUBJECT: Overview of Draft Ordinance - Mr. David Hatcher, Housing
 Official for the Code Enforcement Division
FUNDING SOURCE &
ORIGINAL BUDGET:

FOCUS AREAS: Connecting Our Community, Enhancing Columbia's
 Neighborhoods, Innovative & High Quality Municipal Services


ATTACHMENTS:
  ARTICLE IX. SHORT TERM RENTALS DRAFT ORDINANCE (PDF)
  STR_Presentation (PDF)




Updated: 3/28/2022 3:56 PM Page 1
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Draft 5.25.21

 ARTICLE IX. SHORT TERM RENTALS




 Attachment: ARTICLE IX. SHORT TERM RENTALS DRAFT ORDINANCE (7442 : Overview of Draft Ordinance)
Sec. 5-400. Scope of Article.

Unless otherwise specified, the requirements and provisions of this section shall apply
to owner-occupied and non-owner-occupied short-term rentals (collectively called
"short-term rentals”). This section does not apply to hotels, motels, bed and breakfast
establishments, or inns that are subject to and compliant with the City's business license
and other applicable Code requirements. This section also does not apply to longer-
term rentals subject to the City's rental housing regulations.

Sec. 5-401. Definitions.

Unless otherwise expressly stated, the following terms shall, for the purposes of this
Code, have the meanings shown in this section. Where terms are not defined,
through the methods authorized by this section, such terms shall have ordinarily
accepted meaning such as the context implies.
Dwelling means any structure or series of multiple related structures that legally may
be used for habitation by humans. For purposes of this article, the term "dwelling"
includes single-household structures, two-household structures (duplexes), and
townhouses.
Owner-occupied means a dwelling is owner-occupied if a dwelling owner uses the
dwelling, or part thereof, as his or her primary residence. To qualify as a resident(s) of
a property, the person(s) shall use that property as their legal voting address, South
Carolina driver's license address, South Carolina identification card address. The
property shall also be the four percent homeowner’s assessment ratio address. The
owner shall reside on the property at least 183 days each year.
Non-owner-occupied means a residential dwelling unit that is not owner-occupied that is
used and/or advertised through an online marketplace for rent for transient occupancy
by guests.
Responsible party means both the short-term rental property owner and a person
(property manager/agent) designated by the owner to be called upon and be
responsible at all times during the period of a short-term rental and to answer for the
maintenance of the property, of the conduct and acts of occupants of the short-term
rental property and in the case of the property manager/agent, to accept service of legal
process on behalf of the owner of the STR property. The responsible party shall reside
within 15 miles of the City.




 Packet Pg. 6
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Short-term rental (STR) means the rental or lease for valuable consideration of a
residential dwelling unit, or portion thereof, for a duration of less than 30 consecutive
days.
Short-term tenant means any person, other than a legal owner, who pays a fee or other
compensation to occupy a dwelling of less than 30 consecutive rental days.




 Attachment: ARTICLE IX. SHORT TERM RENTALS DRAFT ORDINANCE (7442 : Overview of Draft Ordinance)
SEC. 5-402. SHORT-TERM RENTAL REGULATIONS
Non-owner-occupied short-term rentals are not allowed in residential districts as defined
in Sec. 17-3.2.
The following regulations apply to both owner-occupied short-term rentals and non-
owner-occupied short-term rentals.
 (a) Determination of Short-Term Rental Offering: Any online advertisement
 posted by the owner is sufficient to determine that a unit is being offered as a
 rental.
 (b) Business License Required: The owner offering a dwelling for short-term
 rental shall comply with all business license and revenue collection laws of the
 City of Columbia, Richland County, and State of South Carolina.
 (c) Insurance: The record owner of the subject property must keep in full force
 and effect during all times the STR is operated a general liability policy with a
 company authorized to do business in the State of South Carolina insuring
 against personal injury (including death) and property damage with limits of no
 less than $1,000, 000.00 per occurrence.
 (d) Peaceful Enjoyment by Neighbors: The STR use shall create no disturbing or
 offensive noise, vibration, smoke, dust, odor, heat, glare, unhealthy or unsightly
 condition, traffic, or parking problems.
 (e) Safety Inspection: An initial safety inspection shall be conducted by the City.
 Additional inspections for compliance with the regulations in this section may be
 performed by the City if deemed necessary and with 24-hour notice to the permit
 holder.
 (f) Records Required: The property owner shall maintain records for two years
 demonstrating compliance with these provisions, including but not limited to
 information demonstrating residency if required, the number of days per calendar
 year the residential unit has been rented as a STR, and compliance with the
 insurance requirement in this section. These records shall be made available to
 the City upon request.
 (g) Contact: The property owner must be willing to take phone calls at all
 times if needed to address issues with the short-term rental use; or the owner



 Packet Pg. 7
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 must provide the name, mailing address, and telephone number of a
 designated responsible party who lives within a 15-mile radius of the City
 limits, who is willing to take phone calls at all times if needed to address
 issues with the short-term rental use, and who is authorized to accept service
 of process on behalf of the owner of said unit.




 Attachment: ARTICLE IX. SHORT TERM RENTALS DRAFT ORDINANCE (7442 : Overview of Draft Ordinance)
 (h) Registrations are non-transferrable: If ownership of a registered dwelling
 changes, the new owner must complete a new registration form before renting
 out any part of the dwelling for a STR and must pay the annual fee.
 (i) Minimum Rental Age: The short-term tenant shall be at least twenty-one (21)
 years old.
 (j) Minimum Rental Duration: The short-term rental shall not be available for rent
 for a period of less than overnight.
 (k) Simultaneous Owner-Occupied Rentals: Owners of owner-occupied duplex
 properties or properties with accessory dwelling units may apply for one permit
 per parcel. The STR permit will allow the property owner to rent either the
 primary residence or the accessory dwelling unit as a short-term rental. The
 simultaneous rental of the primary residence and the accessory dwelling unit is
 prohibited.


SEC. 5-403. SHORT-TERM RENTAL PERMIT
 (a) Each STR is required to obtain a permit. Applications for a permit shall be on
 a form provided by the City of Columbia. Permits must be renewed on an annual
 basis as detailed below:
 (1) The STR permit requires the following for issuance:
 a. The approved application; and
 b. The STR permit registration fees.
 (2) The STR permit application and registration fees shall be paid at the time
 the application is submitted and must be renewed July 1 of each year. Permit
 renewal and associated fees not submitted and paid by July 15 will result in
 loss of the STR permit.
 (3) The owner of a rental dwelling already registered with the City shall re-
 register within 60 days after any change occurs in the registration
 information. A new owner of a registered dwelling shall be required to re-
 register the dwelling by submitting a new STR application and review fee.
 Upon approval, the STR permit fee will be paid.




 Packet Pg. 8
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 (4) Inaccurate or incomplete registration information. It shall be a violation of
 this subchapter for an owner to intentionally provide inaccurate information
 for the registration of rental dwellings, or to fail to provide information
 required by the application form.
(b) An application must be submitted annually to the City. The STR application




 Attachment: ARTICLE IX. SHORT TERM RENTALS DRAFT ORDINANCE (7442 : Overview of Draft Ordinance)
shall contain the following information:
 (1) The address of the rental dwelling;
 (2) The total number of individual rental dwelling units;
 (3) The number of bedrooms in each rental dwelling unit;
 (4) The number of parking spaces provided on site for each rental dwelling;
 (5) The maximum overnight occupancy of each rental dwelling, which shall
 not exceed two persons per bedroom, plus two;
 (6) The names, mailing addresses, business phone numbers, personal
 phone numbers, and business addresses of the owner and any responsible
 party;
 (7) The address where the owner will accept notices and orders;
 (8) An affidavit signed by the property owner certifying the property complies
 with all fire and building ordinances;
 (9) Certification that the owner has read applicable city and state
 regulations, including, but not limited to, those regarding taxes, noise, trash,
 parking, alcohol, animals, and litter.
 (10) Certification that the owner is aware that penalties may be assessed for
 violations by tenants.
 (11) Copy of general liability insurance.
(c) At the time of the application, the permit registration fee shall be paid. These
fees described below are established by City Council and may be changed from
time to time. The fee includes the following:
 (1) Non-refundable application fee: $50.
 (2) Owner-occupied STR: Non-refundable STR permit registration fee is
 $100.00
 (3) Non-owner-occupied STR: Non-refundable STR permit registration fee
 is $500.00 per location.




 Packet Pg. 9
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SEC. 5-404. LIFE, SAFETY, AND SANITATION REQUIREMENTS.

For purposes of this article, the following standards apply to short term rentals and must
be met prior to being issued a registration:




 Attachment: ARTICLE IX. SHORT TERM RENTALS DRAFT ORDINANCE (7442 : Overview of Draft Ordinance)
 (a) 9-1-1 numbers - Minimum three inches tall and readily visible and legible from
 the street.

 (b) Trash cans and storage of solid waste - One roll cart and recycling bin with a
 designated storage location for the roll cart behind the front building line.

 (c) Environmental - Property exteriors shall comply with the International
 Property Maintenance Code.

 (d) Doors and windows - Individual dwelling units must have access directly to
 the outside or to a common corridor. Sleeping rooms must have at least one
 operational window.

 (e) Stairs, rails, porches, decks - A graspable handrail is required for four or more
 stairs whether indoors or out. Guardrails are required on decks over 30 inches
 above grade, must be a minimum of 36 inches in height and not have any
 openings between pickets or rails that exceeds four inches. Porches and decks
 shall not have apparent structural damage or broken or missing rails or steps. No
 exposed risers are allowed on stairs over 30 inches in height whether indoors or
 out.

 (f) Swimming pools/spas - Swimming pools and spas shall be enclosed and
 include a self-closing and self-latching gate of 48 inches minimum height.

 (g) Electrical service and electrical hazards - Electrical service shall be provided
 through the public service provider. All bathrooms, exterior outlets, non-dedicated
 kitchen outlets within six feet of kitchen sink shall be ground-fault protected.
 Missing or cracked plates on switches or outlets shall be repaired.

 (h) Ceilings - Habitable spaces and hallways must have a clear ceiling height of
 not less than seven feet. Ceilings shall not have any apparent visual defects,
 evidence of mold or mildew, or holes with exposed wiring or insulation.

 (i) Walls - Walls shall not have any apparent visual defects, evidence of mold or
 mildew, or holes with exposed wiring or insulation.

 (j) Floors - Floors shall not have any apparent visual defects, evidence of mold or
 mildew, or soft spots.

 (k) Sink - In kitchen with hot and cold running water. Hot water to be at least 85
 degrees and not to exceed 120 degrees.




 Packet Pg. 10
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 (l) Stove or range - Stoves and ranges shall be free of apparent hazards.
 Combustible material must be at least 30 inches above the heat source. Anti-tip
 device must be installed for freestanding units.




 Attachment: ARTICLE IX. SHORT TERM RENTALS DRAFT ORDINANCE (7442 : Overview of Draft Ordinance)
 (m) Toilet - Flushing and leak free in a room affording privacy.

 (n) Wash basin - Operational and leak free equipped with hot and cold running
 water. Hot water to be at least 85 degrees and not to exceed 120 degrees.
 (o) Tub or shower - Must be operational and equipped with hot and cold running
 water in a room affording privacy. Hot water to be at least 85 degrees and not to
 exceed 120 degrees.
 (p) Ventilation in bathroom - Bathrooms must have a window or mechanical
 ventilation and not have an evidence of mold or mildew.
 (q) Smoke detectors - Every bedroom and adjoining hallway as well as the
 common area shall be equipped with an operational, approved listed smoke
 detector. In units containing more than one story, detectors are required on each
 story.
 (r) Fire extinguisher - Minimum five-pound ABC fire extinguisher that is fully
 charged and not past expiration date.
 (s) Fire Protection Sprinkler System - A non-owner-occupied STR must be
 equipped with a fire protection sprinkler system
 (t) Evacuation plan - Each room used for sleeping shall have an evacuation plan
 posted on the door.
 (u) Heating equipment - Operational heating facilities capable of maintaining a
 room temperature of 70 degrees.
 (v) Evidence of infestation - Premises shall appear free of rats, mice, roaches, or
 other vermin.
 (w) Interior stairs and common halls - Stairs and halls shall not have apparent
 damage or missing rails or steps. No exposed risers are allowed on stairs over
 30 inches in height whether indoors or out.
 (x) Carbon Monoxide Detector - Carbon Monoxide Detector will be required and
 properly installed in all units that have attached garage and/or gas appliances.


SEC. 5-405. VIOLATIONS
STR owners are ultimately responsible for the conduct of their occupants, tenants, and
guests, regardless of whether the owners are present at the dwelling.




 Packet Pg. 11
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Violations include, but are not limited to:
 (a) Lying and/or providing false information about a dwelling or short-term rental
 to the City;
 (b) Failure to have a valid registration for any dwelling at a time when it is used in




 Attachment: ARTICLE IX. SHORT TERM RENTALS DRAFT ORDINANCE (7442 : Overview of Draft Ordinance)
 whole or in part as a short-term rental;
 (c) Violation of any part of this article;
 (d) Violation of any applicable ordinance or laws by owners, operators, lessors,
 agents, occupants, tenants, or guests of short-term rentals (examples include,
 but are not limited to, violations of ordinances and laws concerning excessive
 noise, disorderly conduct, littering, underage drinking, drug offenses, public
 drunkenness, traffic and parking, and all other criminal and nuisance offenses).
 (e) Depending on severity, as determined by the Chief of Police or designee,
 violations of this article may result in immediate revocation of the registration of a
 dwelling or dwellings. Absent the need for immediate revocation, a formal written
 warning shall be issued for a first violation in a 12-month period. However, if
 there is an additional violation at the same dwelling within the 12-month period
 immediately following a warning, registration for that dwelling shall be revoked.
 (f) If it is determined that a dwelling's registration for short-term rentals should be
 revoked, a revocation hearing notification will be sent to the property owner(s) at
 the contact address provided in the registration application. Notice shall include
 the time and place for the hearing, which shall take place before the City
 Manager for the purpose of determining whether to revoke registration. The City
 Manager shall render a final decision within 10 days.


SEC.5-406. SEVERABILITY
The provisions of this article are severable, and if any section, sentence, clause, part, or
provision thereof shall be held illegal, invalid, or unconstitutional by any court of
competent jurisdiction, such decision of the court shall not affect or impair the remaining
sections, sentences, clauses, parts, or provisions of this article. It is hereby declared
that the intent of the council is that this article would have been adopted as if such
illegal, invalid, or unconstitutional section, sentence, clause, part, or provision had not
been included herein.




 Packet Pg. 12
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 Attachment: STR_Presentation (7442 : Overview of Draft Ordinance)
Columbia Police Department
 Code Enforcement Division


 Short Term Rentals
 David Hatcher
 Packet Pg. 13
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 Introduction




 Attachment: STR_Presentation (7442 : Overview of Draft Ordinance)
• Challenges
  – Impacts of STR’s
 • Noise and Public Safety
 • Ordinance Compliance
 • Heavy Traffic, Trash and Parking Issues
 • Offensive Behavior
 • Over occupancy
  – Current regulation for rentals
 • There is currently no regulations or rules for owner occupied STR’s




 Packet Pg. 14
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 Introduction




 Attachment: STR_Presentation (7442 : Overview of Draft Ordinance)
• Stats (According to AirDNA)
 – 685 STR’s in the Columbia Area
 – 86% are the entire home for rent
 – $151 – Average daily rate
 – 67% Occupancy Rate
 – Majority are 1 – 3 bedrooms
 – 11% growth in the first quarter of 2022




 Packet Pg. 15
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 Attachment: STR_Presentation (7442 : Overview of Draft Ordinance)




https://www.airdna.co/vacation-rental-data/app/us/south-carolina/columbia/overview
 Packet Pg. 16
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 Attachment: STR_Presentation (7442 : Overview of Draft Ordinance)




https://www.airdna.co/vacation-rental-data/app/us/south-carolina/columbia/overview
 Packet Pg. 17
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 Introduction




 Attachment: STR_Presentation (7442 : Overview of Draft Ordinance)
• Other Municipalities
 – Charleston, SC
 – Beaufort, SC
 – Greenville, SC
 – Mount Pleasant, SC
 – Folly Beach, SC




 Packet Pg. 18
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 Short Term Rental Ordinance




 Attachment: STR_Presentation (7442 : Overview of Draft Ordinance)
• STR Permit Required
  – Application
 • Renewed annually
 • Renewal date July 1st
  – Requirements
 • Peaceful Enjoyment by Neighbors
 • Safety inspection
 • 24 hour contact person
  – Non-Owner STR’s
 • Prohibited in residential districts defined by Sec. 17-3.2



 Packet Pg. 19
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 Short Term Rental Ordinance




 Attachment: STR_Presentation (7442 : Overview of Draft Ordinance)
• Prohibited in residential districts defined by
Sec. 17-3.2




 Packet Pg. 20
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 Short Term Rental Ordinance




 Attachment: STR_Presentation (7442 : Overview of Draft Ordinance)
• Life, Safety, and Sanitation Requirements
 – Mostly minimum requirements already in place
 – Exceptions
 • Evacuation plan
 • Carbon monoxide detectors
 • Sprinkler system for non-owner-occupied




 Packet Pg. 21
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 Short Term Rental Ordinance




 Attachment: STR_Presentation (7442 : Overview of Draft Ordinance)
• Fees
  – Annual fees
 • $50 application fee
 • $100 registration fee for owner occupied STR
 • $500 registration fee for non-owner occupied STR




 Packet Pg. 22
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 Short Term Rental Ordinance




 Attachment: STR_Presentation (7442 : Overview of Draft Ordinance)
• Violation of STR Ordinance
  – Responsibility
 • Ultimately the property owner is responsible for tenants actions
  – Violations include
 • Providing false information
 • Failure to register
 • Violation of any applicable ordinances or laws
  – Revocation
 • First warning
 • Revocation after second warning within a 12 month period
  – Appeal
 • To the City Manager
 Packet Pg. 23
 Questions?




Packet Pg. 24 4.b
 Attachment: STR_Presentation (7442 : Overview of Draft Ordinance)

COLUMBIA SHORT-TERM RENTALS AD HOC COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES
 TUESDAY, APRIL 26, 2022

CALL TO ORDER

The Columbia Short-Term Rentals Ad Hoc Committee conducted a meeting on Tuesday, April
26, 2022 at 4:00 p.m. at the Busby Street Community Center, 1735 Busby Street, Columbia,
South Carolina.

Attendee Name Title Status
Will Brennan Member Present
Howard E. Duvall Member Present
Tina N. Herbert Member Present

COMMITTEE DISCUSSION

1. Welcome and Introduction of Committee - The Honorable Howard E. Duvall, Jr., Chair

Councilor Duvall said this is the first meeting of the short-term rental committee and I am joined
by Will Brennan (District Three) and Tina Herbert (District One). This is the first of several
meetings that we will be having and we hope to come to a reasonable compromise for both
neighborhoods, owners of short-term rentals, and investors. We don’t have to do it all tonight.
We have three short presentations that will add to the information that we have to deal with. I
hope to adjourn at 6:00 p.m. If you don’t get to speak tonight, there will be other opportunities to
speak in the next few months. One of the members who helped us in the beginning has retired
from council and Tina has taken his place. Mr. Brennan and I worked with the staff to draft an
ordinance. We used many different ordinances to develop this draft. Many cities in South
Carolina are dealing with this issue. We looked at Charleston, Greenville, Myrtle Beach, North
Myrtle Beach, Beaufort, Asheville, and Raleigh to find ones that would be most suitable for
Columbia and the clientele we have. We met with David Bergman and we modified the draft
ordinance based on some of his suggestions. This will not be the final version tonight. It would
be helpful if I explained a few of the terms using the Municipal Association of South Carolina’s
Short Guide to Short-Term Rentals. The main issue we will have is an owner-occupied short-
term rental which is in the 4% tax category or a non-owner occupied short-term rental which is
in the 6% tax category. State law has three classifications dealing with short-term rentals: rental
of a primary residential home for up to 14-days per year; rental of a primary residential home for
15 to 72 days; and rental of second homes and investment properties.




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COLUMBIA SHORT-TERM RENTALS AD HOC COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES
 TUESDAY, APRIL 26, 2022

2. Overview of Short Term Rental Impact - Mr. Bill Ellen, Experience Columbia

Mr. Bill Ellen, President and CEO of the Midlands Authority for Conventions, Sports and
Tourism said short-term rental is not something we knew a lot about ten years ago. We did not
understand the impact that it would have on the hospitality industry today. Our goal at
Experience Columbia is to attract visitors to our city and help them have a positive experience.
Many of our visitors look for alternate accommodations and short-term rentals meet that need.
We are not opposed to short-term rentals. It is a major player in our industry and it is here to
stay. Air Bed and Breakfast Company began in 2007. By 2009, they were successful and
changed their name to Airbnb. By 2013, they signed up a half million other short-term rental
clients. By 2017, Airbnb was valued at over $31 billion. By 2019, Airbnb was renting two
million overnight rooms every night worldwide. Obviously, this has met a need for visitors
needing overnight accommodations. Through March 2022, there were 614 active short-term
rentals in the city that generated $3.5 million in revenue according to AirDNA. In 2021, short-
term rentals generated $21,946,000 in revenue. Local hoteliers realize that short-term rentals are
here to stay. Their major concern is that they want an equal playing field. Many short-term rental
companies are already collecting some form of tax or fee but there are many that are not
collecting the same taxes that hoteliers collect. Money is being left on the table that the city can
find use for and the hoteliers would feel like it is an equal playing ground. The majority of the
614 rentals are located in 29201 and 29205. The highest rental generated $175,000 in a year. We
are here to provide information and assist in any way we can.

Councilor Duvall asked if AirDNA lets you look at a specific rental.

Mr. Bill Ellen, President and CEO of the Midlands Authority for Conventions, Sports and
Tourism said it is very specific. You can see a picture, the address, and the revenue the unit is
generating.

Councilor Brennan asked Mr. Ellen for parallel statistics for hotels.

Mr. Bill Ellen, President and CEO of the Midlands Authority for Conventions, Sports and
Tourism said Smith Travel Research provides similar data. I can tell you the occupancies,
average rates, and average rates at a destination.

Councilor Brennan asked about the vacancy rates for short-term rentals.




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COLUMBIA SHORT-TERM RENTALS AD HOC COMMITTEE MEETING MINUTES
 TUESDAY, APRIL 26, 2022

Mr. Bill Ellen, President and CEO of the Midlands Authority for Conventions, Sports and
Tourism said hotel occupancy is running at 52%. The same time in 2019 was 56%. I will get the
data for you.

Councilor Herbert asked if Mr. Ellen verified the addresses to ensure they are in city limits. We
have donut holes and properties that aren’t in the city, especially in 29203.

Mr. Bill Ellen, President and CEO of the Midlands Authority for Conventions, Sports and
Tourism said so far this year, 29203 generated $130,577. I have 29201, 29203, 20204, 29205,
29206, 29209, 29210, 29212, 29223 and 29229 from AirDNA.

Councilor Duvall introduced Ms. Olivia Gillespie from Clinton, North Carolina as his Mayor’s
Fellow.

Councilor Herbert introduced Ms. Alexis Mertz from Phoenix, Arizona as her Mayor’s Fellow.

3. Status of Short Term Rental Industry - Mr. David Bergmann, Heartwood Furnished
 Homes

Mr. David Bergman said we own and operate Heartwood Furnished Homes. We have six full-
time employees and 15 cleaners. Over the past year, we hosted over 2,500 stays. Market data
from AirDNA in February 2022 shows 524 entire home short-term rentals. A lot of people just
rent a room in their house. This data includes rentals in Forest Acres and 29203. Many of those
are not inside city limits. The estimated number is 450 which is 1% of the total housing stock.
Those 524 entire home rentals equate to 1,100 bedrooms and provides for 2,200 occupants. Of
these rentals, two-thirds are smaller units and 9% are larger houses with four or more bedrooms.
The demand for short-term rentals doubled over the past two years to 6,000 nights booked per
month. That increase is consistent with national trends. Short-term rentals make up 20% of the
demand for lodging in the United States and 60% of those reservations are millennials. In
February 2022, Columbia short-term rentals brought in a total of $1 million. Excluded from that
is a 10.27% tax that Airbnb and VRBO take from the guest and remit it at the state and county
level on behalf of hosts. The host has to collect and remit taxes administered at the local level.
The cleaning and maintenance fees are collected by the operator to get the property ready for the
next guest. There are about 50 full-time cleaning jobs. Airbnb estimated that 80% of hosts have a
single listing. The average listing per host is 1.3. Our guests stayed an average of 5.5 days and
the average hotel stay is 1.8 days; 44% of stays in Columbia are greater than a week; and 26% of
stays are greater than two weeks. Half of the stays are people visiting from out of town for
events. The most common guests are travel nurses, military families, new residents, and current

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residents. Short-term rentals offer full kitchens, laundry facilities, multiple bedrooms, a backyard
and affordability. Currently, we must adhere to the rental housing regulations that went into
effect in 2016 for long-term rentals. In our more than 2,500 stays in the past year, we haven’t
received a single citation and I am not aware of any host that has received a citation. Code
enforcement has not released data that suggests that they have received citations and there is no
data to support that we are over represented with violations. We need to determine if the current
policy is effective and why we need to start a new framework. The policies in Charlotte and
Greenville have not been effective in limiting the supply of short-term rentals because the
demand is there. Short-term rentals foster parallel development, create jobs and add value. We
all look forward to developing a fair policy framework that is going to work for all parties.

Councilor Duvall said travel doctors and nurses rent for over 30-days and that would not be
covered by this ordinance. I agree with the comment you made in the Post and Courier. They are
people’s homes that they are willing to put up for short-terms rentals following the law. They are
not investors. The business started with people renting out their homes. Now the investors have
come in and that is the problem.

Councilor Herbert inquired about the 20% and 60% stats.

Mr. David Bergman said according to Airbnb, 19% of the overall lodging in the US is being met
by Airbnbs and 60% of the reservations are millennials.

Councilor Brennan asked Mr. Bergman to speak to the number of renters that come to Fort
Jackson for graduations.

Mr. David Bergman said I can look at our data before the next meeting. The graduations are
every Thursday.

4. Overview of Draft Ordinance - Mr. David Hatcher, Housing Official for the Code
 Enforcement Division

Mr. David Hatcher, Housing Official for the Code Enforcement Division said short-term rentals
are a growing concern and they were not fully addressed when we passed the rental ordinance in
2016. Typical issues are noise, public safety, heavy traffic, trash, parking, offensive behavior,
and over occupancy. Non-owner occupied STRs are considered rentals by ordinance. We have
not tracked STRs. Through AirDNA, I found there are 685 STRs in the Columbia area. I do not
know the exact number in city limits. The average daily rate is $151 with a 67% occupancy rate.
There was 11% growth in the first quarter of 2022. The proposed ordinance requires that all

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short-term rentals have a permit. The permit would be renewed annually on July 1. The
ordinance requires that anyone who owns or operates a STR can ensure that it does not disturb
the neighbors. It requires a safety inspection by city staff. The application must include contact
information for a person available on a 24 hour basis. Under this proposal, non-owner occupied
STRs would be prohibited in residential districts as defined by the new zoning ordinance section
17-3.2. The proposed ordinance identifies minimum life, safety and sanitation standards which
are similar to the standards already in place. This ordinance requires an evacuation plan, carbon
monoxide detectors and a sprinkler system for non-owner occupied units. The annual application
fee is $50; the owner-occupied registration fee is $100; and the non-owner occupied registration
fee is $500. This ordinance is designed to hold the property owners accountable for the tenants’
actions and behaviors. It can be revoked if there are continuous violations. Violations include
providing false information, failure to register, and violation of any applicable ordinances or city
laws.

Councilor Duvall asked if STRs will be limited to three people per dwelling.

Mr. David Hatcher, Housing Official for the Code Enforcement Division said they would have to
be, based on the zoning requirements that are already in place. There would be no more than
three unrelated adults per unit.

Councilor Brennan said we heard there are between 450 and 680 short-term rentals in the city.
How many of those currently have rental permits? Are there issues at those addresses? It would
be great to have a metric.

Councilor Herbert asked if we conduct safety inspections under our rental ordinance.

Mr. David Hatcher, Housing Official for the Code Enforcement Division said a self-checklist is
submitted as part of the application process.

Councilor Herbert said why not apply the same thing to short-term rentals.

Mr. David Hatcher, Housing Official for the Code Enforcement Division said we should look
into that and make sure we are consistent with the two ordinances.

Councilor Herbert asked what percentage of the city can be used for short-term rentals. I am
trying to figure out what space we have for non-owner occupied rentals.



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Mr. David Hatcher, Housing Official for the Code Enforcement Division said I can get that
information.

Councilor Herbert asked why would we have a sprinkler system for non-owner occupied but not
owner-occupied.

Mr. David Hatcher, Housing Official for the Code Enforcement Division said non-owner
occupied is more commercialized. Hotels are required to do it and STRs should be required to as
well.

Councilor Herbert said that is not practical. It impacts the business model and makes it less
feasible. I don’t know if we need to distinguish the two in order to address the behavior.

Councilor Duvall said when an investor buys a property for a STR, you have a boutique hotel in
a residential area. They should not be allowed in residential areas.

Councilor Herbert said there was an article that talked about how the 10% increase in short-term
rentals led to an increase in rent in surrounding areas. Some areas have chosen to cap how many
you can have in the city or in neighborhoods. Have we considered anything like that?

Councilor Duvall said at our next meeting I want to discuss the impact of STRs on affordable
housing in the community and what it does for rent and the price of housing.

Councilor Brennan requested the same data on student housing.

PUBLIC INPUT

Mr. Gustavo Bueno said the committee is worried about everything that is going wrong. I live in
Elmwood. We need to identify and cure the problem. By over-regulating, you might kill a stream
of revenue that benefits the city in many ways. We have a quadplex and we host an Airbnb in our
home. We are owner-occupied. We are considered small investors and we intend to buy other
properties. The proposed regulation would prevent us from doing that and we would have to
choose another city to continue our venture. I would support any regulation that aims to identify
the bad actors and make sure they do not stay in our community.




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Mr. Matt Carol said I have been at this for a while. I was on the code enforcement task force and
helped to establish the current ordinance. There are misguided thoughts about what short-term
rentals are. I own long-term and short-term rentals. Every neighbor has thanked me for buying
long-term rentals and fixing them up for short-term rental use. Our guests leave reviews. We
maintain the houses and the neighbors love that we are there. Under this ordinance, they could
not be in any residential district. If this goes into effect, most of the non-owner occupied
properties will turn back into long-term rentals.

Mr. Anthony Alberti said this space should be regulated. That would hold the operators to a
higher standard and knock off the people that are potentially causing the problems. There is a
demand for this. There is a tax benefit to the city. What is it going to take to enforce this? We are
wasting money trying to enforce something that doesn’t need enforcement. You are abolishing
short-term rentals. You are making it almost impossible to do.

Mr. Jesse Stevenson said I am a real estate broker, property manager, and an investor. I manage
100 long-term rentals and two Airbnbs: one that I own and one for a friend. I know all sides to
the story. My long-term rentals are not taken care of nearly as well as my Airbnbs. Why does
how long my guests stay make my guests worse than long-term guests? Nobody can afford
$50,000 for a sprinkler system. Why would a short-term guest need a sprinkler system but a
long-term guest doesn’t?

Ms. Carla Guida said I have owned real estate for 20 years and I am a nurse. I have short-term
and long-term rentals and Airbnbs. In the last three months, I received a citation on my long-term
rental because they have too much stuff on their porch and they haven’t cut their grass. We are in
the short-term rentals and Airbnbs more often and they are better maintained. Nurses prefer to
stay in a home and not in a room. Travelers also need space for their pets. A lot of times they
have to stay within 30 minutes of the hospital. I had a better experience with my Airbnbs.

Councilor Duvall asked Ms. Guida what’s the difference between her Airbnbs and STRs.

Ms. Carla Guida said they stay at my Airbnbs for three or four days.

Mr. Jim Ray said David Bergman manages my property that I also live in. He does an excellent
job. I am for fair regulation, but this is simply not fair. It would put everyone out of business.




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Mr. Noah Harris said we all love the city of Columbia. I am a real estate investor and a
hardworking business owner. Our child is autistic. I would love to stay at a hotel but it is
impossible to do that with a family. Airbnb has been a lifesaver for us. If you really embrace
autism, keep the short-term rentals around because that is what the city needs. When we moved
here ten years ago, there was a boarded up house across from Finlay Park and we bought it. It is
a memory maker. We can make the industry better by having good regulations.

Mr. Ben Johnson said we opened our first owner-occupied Airbnb in January 2019 and bought
our next investor unit in November 2019. I am asking you to continue considering these as long-
term rentals rather than hotels. The sprinkler system and commercial zone requirements are
onerous. They should be considered single-family residences. The number of nights someone
lives in a home should not matter. Please continue to regulate short-term rentals more similarly
to long-term rentals as zoning already does.

Mr. Kyle Edens said 50% of my stays are Fort Jackson graduations for an average of four to five
days. I hear the problems but I haven’t seen any data. I want to see hard data. Those problems
cost us money. We have noise monitoring devices and we nip a lot in the bud before it gets
started. My properties are in historic and HOA neighborhoods. We spent over $100,000
renovating a historic home that was vacant for four years. We launched a house in July 2021. We
paid Airbnb $4,000 in lodging taxes, $4,000 in income taxes, and $7,500 for cleaning. I would
like to see more creativity put into it. You have the opportunity to create additional revenue for
the city of Columbia. You shouldn’t take a heavy handed approach to a significant need in our
community.

Ms. Shannon Alexander said I am not an investor or an owner; my parents are. I am the co-host
and I cleanup. Before that I was a stay at home mom. My son was diagnosed with a rare terminal
disease and when he passed, we were left with an amazing amount of debt. The ability to host for
my parents and clean the properties has given me a new chance to pay off the debt. I recommend
local businesses, amenities and entertainment in Columbia. We have several properties and they
are all downtown. We steadily host families from Fort Jackson. Most hosts and cleaners are
invested in the process and we are happy to be there 24/7 for those families. We host a lot of
people with special needs.

Mr. Kevin Corrigan said my wife and I own five short-term rentals and an office. I kept asking
why City Council is considering this. I read one article about a situation in Cottontown. We
should know how many short-term rentals there are. We started out a year or two ago and now
we have this current proposal. It feels heavy handed and not thought through.


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Ms. Catherine Fleming Bruce said I am a homeowner and a resident. In 2019, the city passed a
vacant buildings ordinance which is a demand that the property owner keep their properties up,
secure and occupied. Now we have an ordinance that seems to be taking away one of the options
we have to fulfill what Council asked us to do. The ordinance references parking in a couple of
places. I am in a residential area. We have a university, church, and a school. I had residential
parking but that was taken by the city. Now, I have people who sit in front of my house 24/7.
You make the ordinances. Let’s not put all of that on the STRs. STR is a very attractive option. I
am asking you to reconsider the zoning restriction and look at what the city can fix. Look at the
positive things that can be brought to the table.

Ms. Erica Ferrell said I bought a long-term rental where I had to call the police and people were
loud. Turning it into a short-term rental has allowed me to leave my job and stay at home with
my infant. Not all of us are huge investors. I clean up. It is a cute home with books and things for
kids. I allow dogs. My neighborhood is very supportive of the Airbnb. If you remove them from
the residential districts, it would be hard for my family.

Mr. John Carson said I am new to the Columbia area. I was on active duty with five years
overseas. I started a new opportunity with the SC National Guard. I do not own a short-term
rental; I am a patron. We were looking for a short-term rental while we looked for a home, but
they were all booked. We stayed at a hotel for weeks and it was challenging. You pay similar
costs for a lot of the short-term rental opportunities, but you can spread out and cook instead of
eating out. They are important to the community. I want to start one soon but I wouldn’t be able
to do it under these current regulations. I can’t afford to put a sprinkler system in my house.

Ms. Vanessa Trailor said I am a licensed realtor. My husband and I help people buy and sale.
Over the last year, I have seen the demand for short-term housing accommodations more than
ever. I don’t think the supply is eaten up. It is a need for a variety of reasons. Home prices
continue to rise and it is hard to make a good cash on cash return without doing short-term
rentals. My child developed Leukemia and had a bone marrow transplant. He is doing great but
short-terms rentals made it possible for our family to be close to the hospital and in a germ-free
location. Columbia has lagged behind other major cities. We need them for increased tourism.
Airbnb hosts take greater care of their properties. It is important to provide this rental avenue and
be able to provide for the many real estate needs that people may have in our city.




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Mr. Andrew Lucas said I bought my first rental house right out of college with a loan from
USAA. I lived there and went on to manage hotels. I retired from hotels in 2018 due to real
estate investing. I hate Airbnb because it is a lot of work and that is why I employ David and his
team to help manage our Airbnb. His management has been revolutionary. We have no
complaints and no noise ordinance violations on the short-term rental. We have had a few issues
with our long-term rentals. This ordinance is eliminating something that is not a problem. We
need to address the bad actors. The city has an opportunity to get revenue we are missing on the
taxes. There is too much pressure on the commercial side.

Councilor Duvall noted that the city of Columbia lowered its millage rate from 98.1 to 93.1 over
the last 10 years. We haven’t had an increase in 15 years. David, you have been the point person
for the STR community. I am going to ask you to look through the ordinance and suggest
amendments that will improve it. We will be doing the same thing as a committee. I would like
to have your input with suggestions from the community. This is a process. We have listened to
you. I am sure we will listen to the other point of view from the neighborhoods impacted by
STRs. We will come up with something that will be good for the community, that won’t hurt
your industry but will produce peace in the community.

ADJOURNMENT

The meeting was adjourned at 5:48 p.m.

Respectfully submitted:



Erika D. Moore Hammond, CMC
City Clerk




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