The Town of Easton has been grappling recently with the thorny issue of short term vacation rentals (STRs). It is time for Talbot County to do so. The County Code and licensing process for STRs was developed in 2009, when the County received only a handful of applications annually. In 2015, 108 STR licenses were issued; so far in 2016, 126 have been granted. In 2009, a simple application with few requirements, minimal monitoring, and limited enforcement was adequate. Since then, Internet STR marketing websites such as AirBNB and VRBO (Vacation Rentals by Owner) have changed the game completely. A recent online search for STRs that accommodate at least six people in the general vicinity of Easton, MD, revealed over 450 listings!
The discrepancy between STR licenses issued and number of online listings suggests that not all are licensed, one component of the wider and growing STR problem. Municipalities nationwide are grappling with the need for revenue and the problems caused by vacationers in residential communities. Some areas have banned STRs completely; some have limited them to specific locations, while others have imposed limits on the length and frequency of rentals. Common concerns include increased noise, traffic, and trash, as well as damage to the character of neighborhoods, reduced property values, and difficulty selling homes near STR properties.
In Talbot County, most of the STR licenses granted are in residential neighborhoods. Some are located on private roads designed for community use only and maintained by residents. Even worse, STR licenses are granted in residential neighborhoods with existing covenants prohibiting that type of activity.
It may be a surprise to many Talbot County residents, as it was to us, that protective covenants are not a factor in the current licensing process. The County’s licensing process ignores them, enabling investors to convert homes in residential communities into virtual unsupervised hotels. This leaves the community with the options of suing the errant property owner or becoming STR monitors. While Talbot County prides itself on its high quality of life, its failure to support the existing land use restrictions that many of us relied upon when we purchased homes in these communities actually undermines the very reason we moved here.
Under current code, Talbot County cannot deny an STR license if the application meets very limited requirements; location or unusual conditions are not considered. Thus, STRs are allowed to open almost anywhere at any time. License revocation is a lengthy complaint-driven process, forcing neighbors into a surveillance role. The current licensing process favors the applicants, often nonresidents, and burdens residents who live and vote here.
In our community’s case, nonresidents purchased a waterfront home and applied for a license to use the property as a short term vacation rental. Several neighbors strongly opposed it and were granted a County hearing to voice our concerns. Nevertheless, the license was granted, and we are now forced to live with a transient group rental facility. Large groups of noisy, disruptive strangers arrive as frequently as every two days, driving our personal liability and security costs higher, devaluing our homes, and demonstrating clearly the incompatibility of vacationers with residential communities.
Talbot County residents and potential residents should know that under current STR code, nothing protects you and your family from a virtual hotel opening next door. The proliferation of STRs in residential neighborhoods will change the nature of Talbot County if left unchecked. If you are concerned about STRs in your neighborhood, please contact us at [email protected]. Let’s work together for reasonable limitations on short term vacation rentals in our neighborhoods.
Donna and Bill Dudley
Sarah and Jay Eastman
Holly and Paul Fine
Sue and Herb Haschen
Bernadette and Jack McLain
David Lloyd says
Very disturbing and do believe standards need to be set and enforced!