It’s hard to believe we are already getting into the holiday season! I hope you can enjoy time with your friends and family during this time. We have much to be thankful for.
A couple of years ago during the ongoing discussions regarding short-term rentals in our community, residents asked for more enforcement of current ordinances to ensure a good quality of life. This feedback resulted in actionable items that have been implemented. For many years the city has been a leader in managing and balancing the demands of being a vacation destination. We were one of the first municipalities to require business licenses for short term rentals, we instituted occupancy limits for people and cars, we have limited the size of square footage for houses and have requirements for pervious surfaces. As a result of resident feedback, we hired a full-time short-term rental coordinator and code enforcement staff to respond to resident requests and do better at enforcing the rules. We instituted a 5-strike rule where an owner could lose their license for repeat offenses, and we purchased different software to better track unlicensed operators. However, our staff can’t be all places at once – we need your help. If you have a rental property near you that you think is in violation of existing rules, please call the police non-emergency number (843-886-6522) and ask for help. Also, if you know who the rental management company is, call them as well. I can assure you they want to be good representatives of their owners, and they are fully aware of the penalties involved. It takes all of us to ensure we maintain a balanced, livable community.
Some great upcoming community events I hope you will be able to participate in. Happy Holidays to you and your family!
Thank you for the opportunity to serve!
Phillip Pounds, Mayor IOP
843-252-5359