Owners of short term rental properties in Boone County could soon be facing extra fees in order to continue to operate.
Michael Schwartz, the director and zoning administer of the Boone County Planning Commission, spoke at a recent City of Union Commission Meeting detailing an ordinance requiring an operating license for homeowners who rent out their property for short-term rental websites, like Airbnb and VRBO.
If this motion is passed, a 2% occupational tax, as well as a $50 license fee, will be imposed on anyone that has a short term rental out of their home.
This policy was originally recommended in April by Union city administrator David Plummer.
Plummer said this policy will allow Union to follow suit with other cities in the U.S. and prevent one area of the city from being over-saturated with vacation rentals.
Plummer recommended a similar policy to that of Florence and Boone County’s short-term rental regulations.
The commission was concerned that having a policy at all was unnecessary and overreaching.
Legislation on the motion will be decided upon at the next regular commission meeting on Jan. 4, and the change could begin as early as January.