Erie studies rules for an estimated 60 short-term rentals barred by current code
Staff recommended exploring two-year permits and outlined possible caps and Old Town spacing rules; Town Council took no formal action.
Erie staff are developing townwide rules for short-term rentals after estimating about 60 are operating in town, where the current Unified Development Code does not allow them. Town Council discussed options at a Sept. 1 study session but took no formal action, the meeting recording shows.
Staff based the estimate on Airbnb listings; a map in the Sept. 1 presentation uses data dated June 29, 2026.
Staff recommended evaluating a permit system with a fee and two-year renewal cycle. The report also recommends one permit per individual owner, without residency or occupancy requirements, and owner affidavits confirming compliance with building and fire codes and property covenants, the staff report says.
Other options included a townwide cap that would keep rentals below 1% of Erie’s housing stock, a cap on whole-home rentals, occupancy limits and spacing requirements in high-demand areas such as Old Town. Staff did not select a cap or specify a spacing distance.
The presentation also outlined possible operating rules, including a posted 24-hour host or emergency contact and a one-hour response requirement. Potential enforcement grounds included operating without a permit, code violations and recurring nuisance problems. Repeated issues or major crimes could lead to permit revocation.
Staff planned to continue outreach and refine the proposal, with Planning Commission review targeted for Oct. 7 and Town Council review targeted for Oct. 13. Those dates were planned steps, not decisions or adopted rules.