LANCASTER—After a year of discussions by the planning commission, the Lancaster board of supervisors adopted proposed regulations for short-term rentals (STRs) that would, according to county administrator Don Gill, “address the safety and enjoyment of our transient visitors but also protect the neighborhoods in which the short-term rentals are located.”
Following a public hearing, the board approved the new ordinance, 5-0.
During the hearing, complaints about STRs were confined to the High Bank community near White Stone. Residents asked the county to ban unhosted STRs within high density communities. Resident Cindy Allen complained of fires, parking issues “when 15 STR guests are in a three-bedroom septic home,” trash and strangers in her neighborhood.
Jeff Allen said the language of the statute “places the safety of transient residents first and the actual residents of the county second. I think it should be the other way around.” Allen added that with high density neighborhoods, STR owners should….
