Brentwood council advertises proposed short-term rental terms

Brentwood leaders have outlined rules to meet the growing trend of short-term leasing.

Council members in February approved the advertisement of an ordinance that amends the borough’s zoning code and establishes regulations for location and operation of short-term rental units. Council members could vote on the final draft as early as March.

Borough leaders have been working for the last year to draft the ordinance.

“It’s just to protect the integrity of the borough,” manager George Zboyovsky said.

The prompt for the new ordinance came when the borough’s assistant manager Eric Peccon was doing a browse of rentals in the community.

“He noticed a couple of Airbnbs. Our current ordinance really doesn’t address them because they’re relatively new,” Zboyovsky said.

Council’s zoning and ordinance committee began to look at the best locations to allow short-term rentals and added protections that could be put in place.

“We don’t want them in a residential area. That’s part of Brentwood’s charm is its residential areas,” Zboyovsky said.

Under the proposed ordinance, short-term lodging would only be allowed in the borough’s R-3 zoning district, which allows for multi-family housing.

Anyone wishing to operate short-term lodging must receive a special exception from the borough’s zoning hearing board.

Borough leaders looked at similar ordinances across the state and “fine-tuned it to meet Brentwood’s specifications,” Zboyovsky said.

Under the proposed ordinance, property owners would not be allowed to make outward modifications to the structure or grounds. There also must be one off-street parking space for each sleeping room in the short-term rental space.

There also can be no more than two people per bedroom, plus two additional people staying overnight.

A person also cannot stay in the space for more than 30 consecutive days, the proposed ordinance states.

No concerts, weddings or conferences are allowed to take place on the lot, according to the proposed ordinance.

The ordinance also outlines rules for Bed & Breakfasts, including that they must be in a single-family dwelling where the operator is present full-time, Zboyovsky said.

The ordinance also prohibits owners from serving food and beverages to anyone not staying overnight.