Chatham County reviews short-term rental ordinance

CHATHAM COUNTY, Ga. (WTOC) - Chatham County officials are working on changes to a short-term rental ordinance. The goal is to make sure properties are properly licensed and owners can be held accountable.

Short-term rentals are creating tension in unincorporated parts of Chatham County. Commissioners are trying to find middle ground.

“That’s what we are trying to get to an answer to. How do we balance?” said Chairman Chester Ellis.

Chatham County commissioners want more time to work on proposed changes to the short-term rental ordinance.

The county first approved the ordinance in 2021. After resident feedback, it’s getting another look.

The goal is to make sure rental properties are properly licensed so police and code enforcement can respond to complaints.

“It’s become a problem because of the businesses that you heard. They are not even here, but they buy the place and they put it up as an Airbnb or they put it up as a short-term rental,” Ellis said.

Some proposed changes include minimum distances between short-term rentals to prevent neighborhoods from becoming saturated. Officials are also looking at occupancy limits, septic system impacts and license visibility requirements.

Chatham County residents spoke at the meeting, including Jamie Holiday, a Talahi Island resident. She said her street is surrounded by two lakes, and each home uses a septic tank system.

“And I am very concerned when I see those tiny wagons come in on a monthly basis to pump out these septic tanks... I just wonder what it’s doing to our environment, what it’s doing to our lakes,” Holiday said.

Another resident said he rents his guest house through Airbnb to help pay county taxes.

“Because we too are within Chatham County. And we have very high taxes. This helps us pay our county taxes,” said Jay Maupin.

Discussions about these proposed changes will be ongoing.

Commissioners have tabled the ordinance while they continue to review the proposed changes.