Short-Term Rentals

Public Comments as of 10/07/22Short-Term Rental Ad Hoc Committee

The City of Lewes has a considerable and increasing number of vacation rental properties within its boundaries. The nationwide trend has brought increased income to communities, including our own. But it has brought increased pressures on our City, as well: expanded need for trash removal, recycling and police services; increased traffic; parking issues and pressures on quality of life in general.

The Short-Term Rental Ad Hoc Committee is gathering information on the impacts of short-term rentals on the City of Lewes. The Committee will provide recommendations to Mayor and City Council regarding possible changes to the taxing structure imposed on these rentals and to related regulations and services. The Committee will address the following areas in its review:

Possible zoning options to help manage short-term rentals
Possible need for additional regulations to manage short-term rentals
Possible need to differentiate the GRRT rate for short-term rentals versus long-term rentals
Possible need to revise the licensing fees and requirements for short-term rentals

ORDINANCE PRESENTATION TO COUNCIL AND PUBLIC HEARING

After four months of work on the part of the Short Term Rentals Ad Hoc Committee, two ordinances were developed and presented to City Council for the scheduling of a public hearing on September 12, 2022. A public hearing was scheduled for October 3, 2022, with the record being left open for comments until 12 noon on Friday, October 7th. Mayor and City Council will vote on the ordinances on October 10, 2022 at the monthly City Council meeting. Copies of the ordinances as presented at the public hearing are found below, as well as public comments that were entered as a part of the public hearing process.

Adopted Ordinance Chapter 150 Rental Licensing

Proposed Ordinance City Code Chapter 150 Rental Licensing

Ordinance for Rental Zoning

Public Comments as of 10/05/22

Public Comments as of 10/07/22

PUBLIC INPUT

The Committee is accepting public input so that regulations developed as a result of the Committee's work meets the needs of the entire City. Recognizing that different areas of the City have different needs and challenges, the Committee has determined that it will review different geographic contexts of the City. These contexts include: Lewes Beach (R3 and R3(H) zones), downtown Lewes (R4, R4(H), TC and TC(H) zones), and other residential areas (R2, R2(H), R1, and R5 zones).

To help collect public comment, we have created a comment form. The form is not an anonymous survey, but rather an opportunity to submit input. Name and address fields are required to complete the form so that we can give proper weight to the comments submitted by residents and property owners within Lewes.

Online Comments - 8/16/2022 at 9:50 a.m.

Online Comments - 8/9/2022 at 10:15 a.m.

Online Comments - 7/26/2022 at 9:57 a.m.

Online Comments - 7/25/2022 at 4:30 p.m.
Online Comments - 7/25/2022 at 12:45 p.m.

Public Comments