PEORIA, Ill. — Nearly nine months after it was first proposed, Peoria City Council on Tuesday night unanimously made it legal for homeowners to use their properties for short-term rentals.
Stipulations vary per each living arrangement.
In single-family residential districts and in form districts where a home is occupied by its owner, an administrative review will be enough to permit use. If the home is not occupied by the owner, the owner must get approval by city council, and a public hearing must take place.
In multi-family residential, commercial, institutional and I1 industrial districts, an administrative review will be enough to permit use.
“I think it gives ample protection to older neighborhoods so when there are short-term rentals in non-owner-occupied properties, they will have to go through the special use process, providing an opportunity for neighbors to give their input and to ensure it’s used in a way that doesn’t disturb the peace of the neighborhood,” said At Large Council Member Beth Jensen.
As part of a separate ordinance, operators of hotels, motels, and short-term rentals will be charged a fee of $75 a year.
A representative of AirBNB, the largest short-term rental platform used in Peoria, had been in constant contact with council.
The representative said the company would collect and remit hotel taxes on behalf of the property owners if the council adopted an ordinance requiring it. Such an ordinance could be forthcoming, according to the official text of the ordinance passed Tuesday night.
Additionally, the representative said AirBNB has a special law enforcement portal to ensure direct communication between the company and the police department should any trouble arise at a property rented through the platform.
An estimated 95 properties were active listings within the city.
