Dillon Prepares to Potentially Regulate Short Term Rentals & Require a Responsible Agent

  November 2018

As with other local towns and the Summit County government itself, the Town of Dillon is currently working on  developing an ordinance to regulate short-term rentals.   The process for the Town of Dillon included setting up a Community Input Session to facilitate a short-term rental discussion within the community.  The Dillon Town Council is also discussing potential regulations at its Work Sessions.  It is now anticipated that a set of Dillon short-term rental regulations will be presented for first reading to the Dillon Town Council in early November 2018.  The second reading will likely take place later in November 2018.  If passed by the Dillon Town Council, short-term rental regulations could take effect on January 1, 2019.  The Town of Dillon is presently contemplating a grace period for short-term rental owners to come into compliance with new short-term rental requisites.

Community Input Session on Potential Dillon Short-Term Rental Regulations

On October 4, 2018, the Town of Dillon sponsored a Community Input Session at its Town Hall regarding implementation of potential regulations for short-term rentals.  Topics included the following:

• License Application/Fees
• Basic Life Safety Standards
• Local Agent Requirements
• Tax Compliance
• Parking, Trash & Recycling
• Occupancy

Staff from the Town of Dillon opened the Session with a brief presentation regarding concepts for potential regulations as well as primary and secondary goals.  Town of Dillon staff also put together concept boards pertaining to short-term rental topics and opened up smaller group conversations with community members in front of each of the concept boards.  Staff from the Town of Dillon presented information regarding short-term rental topics and answered questions as well.  Staff also welcomed the submission of comments on index cards from the nearly 50 people in attendance.
Town staff is recommending that every Dillon short-term rental should be individually licensed, with registration fees anticipated at $40 to $50 per year.  Staff is also recommending that the Dillon short-term rental ordinance should become effective on January 1, 2019, but possibly with a grace period for short-term rental licensing until April 1, 2019.  Renewals would thereafter be required by April 1 of each year.  Staff pointed out that any regulations eventually promulgated in Dillon would only apply within its own Town limits.  Accordingly, while these areas might later be regulated by Summit County government, the Town of Dillon short-term regulations would not apply to Dillon Valley, Summit Cove or Keystone.

Discussion of Dillon Short-Term Rental Ordinance at Work Session

After the Community Input Session, staff for the Town of Dillon prepared a Staff Memo regarding potential short-term rental regulations.  At a Work Session on October 16, 2018, Town staff briefly discussed the Community Input Session with members of the Dillon Town Council.  Although members of the public could attend, comment is not permitted during Work Sessions.  Staff and Town Council members stated that they had received positive feedback from the public regarding the implementation of short-term rental rules.  Staff noted they had not yet fully completing a draft version of the short-term rentals ordinance, but the Work Session ended with general agreement that adoption of a short-term rental ordinance in Dillon should move forward.   An  email from the Town Manager Regarding Dillon Short Term Rental Ordinance sets forth a tentative schedule for adoption and implementation:

• November 6, 2018 – Presentation of proposed Dillon short-term rental ordinance with Public Hearing and First Reading
• November 29, 2018 – Public Hearing and Second Reading of proposed Dillon short-term rental ordinance
• January 1, 2019 – Dillon short-term rental ordinance becomes effective. January 1, 2019 to March 31, 2019.  Dillon short-term rental registration and licensing occurs with grace period to come into compliance
• April 1, 2019 – Dillon short-term rental licenses are due. This shall also be the future annual renewal date for Dillon short-term rental licenses

Potential Requirement of Dillon Responsible Agent

Although the proposed Dillon short-term rental regulations have not yet taken their final form, Town staff have suggested that the upcoming ordinance will likely include a requirement for short rental owners in Dillon to have a Responsible Agent.  Town staff have indicated that Dillon is likely to participate in the Summit County call center, where hotline complaints can be submitted regarding short-term rental properties.  The Dillon Responsible Agent has initially been described as someone that Dillon “guests and neighbors can call in case of questions, complaints and emergencies.”  The contact number for the Responsible Agent would also be posted in the unit and possibly provided to neighbors.  Town staff indicated that a Dillon Responsible Agent will need to be available to respond to hotline complaints 24 hours a day and 7 days a week.  Town staff indicated they might not recommend a mileage requirement for a Responsible Agent in terms of their proximity to Dillon.  However, to respond to a hotline complaint regarding a short-term rental property, the Town may require a Dillon Responsible Agent to make an on-site visit, if attendant circumstances dictate.

If a requirement is eventually passed, Summit Local Agent aims to help you comply in the most cost-effective way possible, by serving as your Dillon Responsible Agent.