Westminster settles on solution for short-term rentals

BY LUKE ZARZECKI LZARZECKI@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Westminster won’t ban short-term and vacation rentals in the city but will move to regulate them, the City Council voted May 8.

City Councilor Bruce Baker was the sole no vote, saying he wants protect neighborhood character and keep short terms rentals out of Westminster. He said short-term rentals will hurt neighborhoods.

“We diminish our neighborhoods when we don’t have the vast majority of owners living in their neighborhood, caring about their neighbors and making their common dreams come to life,” he said.

City Councilor Rich Seymour said he agreed with Baker, but that shortterm rentals need to be regulated since they are already occurring in the city.

Mayor Pro Tem David DeMott, City Councilors Sarah Nurmela, Obi Ezeadi, Lindsey Emmons and Mayor Nancy McNally agreed they must be regulated.

“Having it in our code allows us to address it,” said Nurmela.

DeMott said having multiple uses and housing options in the city is important. Nurmela said she was concerned about how the rentals may impact the city’s housing market.

The regulations e approved resolution gives the city enforcement mechanisms. According to the ordinance, anyone o ering a short-term rental must rst obtain and maintain a license that is valid for two years.

Prior to the vote, short-term rentals rules didn’t exist in the Westminster City Code. According to the meeting’s agenda, zoning is “permissive in nature” and no reference to them leads to enforcement and legal challenges.

All owners of a property must sign onto the application and no one can operate more than one licensed short-term rental within Westminster.

Short-term rentals must adhere to city codes, such as not creating a public nuisance. e rentals can also only be occupied by one party at a time and cannot be rented for commercial activity.