4.

28 Shorttermrentalproperty(STRP)

4.28.010Chapter.
4.28.020Authority.
4.28.030Purpose.
4.28.040Jurisdiction.
4.28.050Severability.
4.28.060GeneralStandards.
4.28.070PlanningandTransportationDepartment.
4.28.080Director.
4.28.090Definitions.
4.28.100PermitRequired.
4.28.110PermitsandRequirements.
4.28.120Fees.
4.28.130DenialorRevocationofPermit.
4.28.140PenaltiesandEnforcement.

4.28.010Chapter.
Thischaptershallbeknown,cited,andreferencedtoasthe"ShortTermRentalProperty"
(STRP)chapter.
4.28.020Authority.
Thischapterisadoptedbythecitypursuanttoitsauthorityunderthelawsofthestate,the
BloomingtonMunicipalCode(BMC),andallotherapplicableauthoritiesandprovisionsofstate
statutoryandcommonlaw.
4.28.030Purpose.
Thischapterisadoptedforthefollowingpurposes:
A. Topromoteentrepreneurshipandbusinessthroughtheprovisionofadditionaltourism
opportunities.
B. Tomaintaintheavailabilityofaffordablehousingandstabilizerentalprices.
C. Toensurepublichealth,safety,andwelfareinsofarastheyareaffectedbythecontinued
occupancyandmaintenanceofstructuresandpremisesusedasaSTRP.
D. Toprotectthecharacterandstabilityofthecity,particularlyitsresidentialneighborhoods
anditsdowntown.
E. Toassistintheeliminationofblight,topromotemaintenanceofproperty,andtothereby
ensurepublichealth,safety,andwelfare.

F. ToregulateandlicensethecommercialbusinessoflettingSTRPstoensurethestability
ofhousingstockandlodgingestablishments.
4.28.040.Jurisdiction.
ThisShortTermRentalPropertychaptershallapplytoallSTRPslocatedwithinthecorporate
boundariesofthecity.
4.28.050Severability.
Ifasection,subsection,sentence,clause,orphraseofthischapteris,foranyreason,heldtobe
unconstitutionalorinvalid,suchdecisionshallnotaffectthevalidityoftheremainingportionsof
thischapter.
4.28.060GeneralStandards.
A. TheSTRPoperatorshallberesponsibleforcompliancewiththischapter.
B. Ifanyprovisionsinthischaptercanbeconstruedtobeinconflictwithprovisionsofthe
CityofBloomingtonUnifiedDevelopmentOrdinance,themorerestrictiveprovision
shallapply.
C. Repairs,maintenancework,alterations,orinstallationswhicharecauseddirectlyor
indirectlybytheenforcementofthischaptershallbeexecutedandinstalledina
workmanlikemannerandinstalledinaccordancewiththemanufacturer'sinstallation
instructionsandallstateandlocalcodes.
D. Requirementsnecessaryforthestrength,stability,orproperoperationofanexisting
fixture,structure,orequipment,withinaSTRPorforthepublicsafety,health,and
generalwelfare,notspecificallycoveredbythischapter,shallbedeterminedbythe
Director.TofurtherthisgoaltheDirectormayrequiredocumentationfromalicensed
personorfirm,orapersonwithparticularknowledgeorskills,torenderadetermination
onstrength,stability,orproperoperationofafeaturewithinaSTRP.
4.28.070PlanningandTransportationDepartment.
A. ThePlanningandTransportationDepartmentshallberesponsiblefortheenforcementof
thischapter.
B. Anofficialoremployeeconnectedwiththeenforcementofthischapter,exceptone
whoseonlyconnectionisthatofamemberoftheboardofpublicworksasestablished
inTitle2oftheBMC,shallnotbeengagedin,ordirectlyorindirectlyconnectedwith,
thefurnishingoflabor,materials,orappliancesforthemaintenanceofaSTRPunless
thatpersonistheowneroftheSTRPorhasfiledauniformconflictofintereststatement
pursuanttotheIndianaCodeSection354413norshallsuchofficeroremployee
engageinanyworkthatconflictswithofficialdutiesorwiththeinterestsofthecity.
4.28.080Director.
A. TheDirectorofthePlanningandTransportationDepartment,andhisorherdesignees,
shallenforcetheprovisionsofthischapter.


B. TheDirectorshallhaveauthorityasnecessaryintheinterestofpublichealth,safety,and

generalwelfare,toadoptandpromulgaterulesandprocedurestointerpretand
implementtheprovisionsofthischapterandtosecuretheintentthereof.Suchrulesshall
nothavetheeffectofwaivingrequirementsspecificallyprovidedforinthischapterorthe
IndianaCode,orofviolatingacceptedengineeringmethodsinvolvingpublicsafety.
4.28.090Definitions.
BedandbreakfasthasthesamedefinitionasstatedinBMCSection20.11.020.
DepartmentmeansthePlanningandTransportationDepartment.
DirectormeanstheDirectorofthePlanningandTransportationDepartment,orhisorher
designees.
Fulltimevacationhomemeansanydwellingunitletexclusivelyforperiodsofthirtyorfewer
dayswithnopermanentresidentoccupyingthedwellingunitashisorherprimaryresidence.
Shorttermrentalproperties,bedandbreakfastestablishments,boardinghouses,hotels,motels,
residentialrentalunits,roominghouses,andlodgingestablishmentsshallnotbeconsidered
fulltimevacationhomes.
LodgingestablishmenthasthesamedefinitionasstatedinBMCSection16.02.020.
MultifamilydwellinghasthesamedefinitionasstatedinBMCSection16.02.020.
PremiseshasthesamedefinitionasstatedinBMCSection16.02.020.
"Residentialrentalunit"meansanydwellingunit,roominghouse,orroomingunitoccupiedbya
person(s)otherthantheownerand/ortheirlegaldependent,andincludescooperativehousing
arrangements.Thisdefinitionofresidentialrentalunit,forpurposesofthischapteronly,
supersedesanydefinitionoftheterminTitle16oftheBMC.Thefollowingoccupancy
arrangementsareexcludedfromthedefinitionofresidentialrentalunitunlessthe
arrangementsarecreatedtoavoidapplicationofthischapter:
1. OccupancyinaresidentialrentalunitownedbyIndianaUniversity
2. Occupancybyamemberofafraternalorsocialorganizationintheportionofastructure
operatedforthebenefitofsaidorganization,providedthestructureitselfisownedbya
nonprofitorganizationgenerallyassociatedwiththefraternalorsocialorganization
3. Occupancybythepurchaserofadwellingunitunderacontractforsale,providedthe
contractforsaleisproperlyrecordedwiththecounty
4. Occupancyinalodgingestablishment
5. Occupancyinarectoryorparsonagebyaperson(s)generallyassumedtooccupysucha
dwelling
6. Occupancyinaresidentialcarefacilityorgrouphome,providedsaidfacilityorhomeis
licensedandinspectedbythestate
7. Ownerswhoresideinadwellingunitbutwhowishtoleasetoindividualsorafamily
whiletheyareabsentfromthecityforshortperiodsoftime,nottoexceedoneyear,but
exceedingthirtydays,andwhointendtoreturntotheirdwellingunitattheexpirationof
theleaseperiodand
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8. Ownerswhooccupythepremises,renttoonetenantformorethanthirtydays,andshare
commonbathroomandkitchenfacilitieswithsaidtenant.
Roominghouse/singleroomoccupancyhasthesamedefinitionasstatedinBMCSection
16.02.020.
Shorttermrentalproperty(STRP)meansadwellingunitthatisletforoccupancyforthirty
orfewerdaysandoperatedbyapermanentresidentoccupyingthedwellingunitashisorher
primaryresidence.Dwellingunitsrentedtothesameoccupantformorethanthirtycontinuous
days,fulltimevacationhomes,bedandbreakfastestablishments,boardinghouses,hotels,
motels,residentialrentalunits,roominghouses,andlodgingestablishmentsshallnotbe
consideredshorttermrentalproperty.

STRPoperatormeansanypersonwhoistheownerofrecordofresidentialrealproperty,or
anypersonwhoisalesseeofresidentialrealpropertypursuanttoawrittenagreementforthe
leaseofsuchrealproperty,whooffersadwellingunit,orportionthereof,forshortterm
occupancy.

PermanentresidentmeansapersonwhooccupiestheSTRPforatleastsixty(60)
consecutivedays,withtheintenttoestablishthatdwellingasthatpersonsprimaryresidence.
Apermanentresidentmaybeanownerorlessee.

Primaryresidencemeansapermanentresidentsusualplaceofreturnforhousingas
documentedbymotorvehicleregistration,driverslicense,voterregistration,taxdocuments
showingtheunitasthepermanentresidentsresidenceforpurposesofahomeownerstax
exemption,orothersuchevidence.Apersonmayhaveonlyoneprimaryresidence.

PrincipalrentermeanstheindividualwhopurchasestheuseofanSTRP.
4.28.100PermitRequired.

A. NopersonorentityshalloperateaSTRPoradvertisearesidentialpropertyforuseasa
STRPwithouttheowneroftheproperty,orotherpartywithapossessoryinterestinthe
property,firsthavingobtainedaSTRPpermitissuedbytheDepartment.

B. NoSTRPpermit,oranyotherpermit,shallbeissuedtofulltimevacationhomes.

4.28.110PermitsandRequirements.

A.PermitApplication.

Application.TheSTRPpermitapplicationshallincludethefollowing:

1. Thename,telephonenumber,address,andemailaddressoftheapplicantthenumberof
bedroomsavailabletoletwhetherSTRPincludesexclusiveorsharedaccessto
bathroomorkitchenspacesandotherinformationusefulasdeterminedbytheDirector,
orhisorherdesignee.
2. Acertificateofinsuranceevidencinggeneralliabilityinsurance.Generalliability
coverageshallhavelimitsofnotlessthanonemilliondollarsperoccurrenceandtwo
milliondollarsintheaggregate.TheCityofBloomingtonshallbelistedonthepolicy
asacertificateholderorsuchotherdesignationthatensuresnotificationintheevent
ofcancellationormodificationofcoverage.
3. IftheSTRPsharesacommonwalloracommonparkingareawithanotherproperty
owner,proofofwrittennotification,onaformapprovedbytheDirector,tosuch
neighboringpropertyowner(s)priortofilingtheapplication.IftheSTRPisa
condominiumandrentaloftheSTRPincludesaccesstoaparkinglotorsimilarcommon
areasharedwithothercondominiumowners,proofofwrittennotificationtothe
associatedcondominiumassociationisrequired.
4. AformsignedbytheSTRPoperatorcertifyingthatheorsheisapermanentresidentof
theSTRPandthattheSTRPishisorherprimaryresidence.
5. ProofofregistrationasaretailmerchantwiththestateofIndianaforpurposesofsales
taxremittanceasdocumentedbyaRegisteredRetailMerchantCertificateorother
suchevidence.
6. ProofofregistrationwiththeMonroeCountyTreasurerforcollectionandremittance
oftheMonroeCountyinnkeeperstaxasdocumentedbyformsprovidedbytheoffice
ofTreasurerorothersuchevidence.
7. IftheSTRPisleasedtotheSTRPoperator,writtenpermissionfromtheproperty
ownertoletthepropertyasaSTRP,onaformapprovedbytheDirector,oracopyof
theleaseindicatingnosubleasingrestrictions.
8. ThepermitapplicationfeeasdefinedbySection4.28.120oftheBMC.

B.Inspection.

1. BeforeaSTRPpermitshallbeissuedthePlanningandTransportationDepartment,or
itsdesignee,shallconductaninspectionofthepropertysubjecttothesame
requirementsasaTitle16cycleinspection,withtheexceptionthatreinspectionsshall
occureverytwoyearstocoincidewithSTRPpermitrenewal.
2. IfaninspectionhasbeenconductedonthepropertyunderTitle16oftheBMC,andan
occupancypermitissuedunderthattitleisstillvalid,anewinspectionisnotrequired.
3. Inthecourseoftheinspectionoftheproperty,iftheSTRPcontainsafuelfired
furnaceafuelfiredapplianceoraworkingandaccessiblegasfireplace,theSTRP
operatorshallprovideproofofacarbonmonoxideinspectionwithintwelve(12)
monthsofthedateofthepermitapplication.

C.RequirementsforSTRPOperatorsandRenters.

1. ASTRPmayonlybeoperatedbyapermanentresidentoftheproperty.TheSTRPshall
betheprimaryresidenceoftheSTRPoperator.Ifthepropertyisnottheprimary
residenceoftheoperatorandtheoperatorisnotapermanentresidentoftheproperty,
thenthepropertyisbeingoperatedasafulltimevacationhome,auseprohibitedbythe
BMC.
2. AllSTRPrentersshallabidebyallapplicablenoiserestrictionscontainedinTitle14of
theBMC.
3. No recreational vehicles, buses, or trailers shall be visible on the street or property in
conjunctionwiththeSTRPuse.
4. NofoodshallbepreparedfororservedtotherentersbytheSTRPoperator.
5. TheprincipalrenterofaSTRPunitshallbeatleasteighteenyearsofage.
6. Maximum occupancy. The maximum number of unrelated adult occupants permitted to
occupy a STRP property at any one time shall not exceed two more than the occupancy
limit for the district where the STRP is located as established by Title 20 of the BMC.
Simultaneousrentaltomorethanonepartyunderseparatecontractsshallnotbeallowed.
7. AcopyoftheSTRPPermitshallbeconspicuouslypostedintheSTRP.
8. Expirationofpermit.ASTRPpermitshallexpiretwoyearsafteritisissued.
9. STRPpermitsmaybereneweduponthecompletionofaninspectionbytheDepartment,
bypaymentofthepermitrenewalfee,asdefinedbySection4.28.120oftheBMC,tothe
Department,andbysubmittingallproofsthatwouldberequiredforanewSTRPPermit.
10. The STRP operator shall be responsible for collecting and remitting allapplicableroom,
occupancy, and sales taxes required by state law, including the Monroe County
innkeeperstax.
11. A STRP permit shall not be transferred or assigned to another individual, person,entity,
or address, nor shall the permit authorize any person, other than the person named
therein,tooperateaSTRPontheproperty.
12. Any advertisement for an STRP shall contain the STRP permit number issued for that
location.
13. TheSTRPshallcomplywiththerequirementslistedinBMCSection16.04.020.

4.28.120Fees.

A. Each applicant for a STRP permit shall submit the permitapplicationfeeofonehundred

dollars ($100) to the Planning and Transportation Department for the processing and
issuanceofaninitialtwoyearpermit.
B. A STRP permit may be renewed every two (2) years thereafter upon the payment ofthe
permitrenewalfeeoftendollars($10)totheDepartment.
C. Inspections conducted under this chapter shall have the same fee schedule as Section
16.03.080oftheBMC.
D. AllfeesshallbedepositedintheUnsafeBuildingFund.

4.28.130DenialorRevocationofPermit.
ThePlanningandTransportationDepartmentshall,afternoticeandhearingbytheboardof
publicworks,revoke,bywrittenorder,anypermitissuedhereunderiftheboardfindsthat:
A. TheSTRPoperatorhasviolatedanyprovisionofthischapteroranyruleorregulation
lawfullymadeunderandwithintheauthorityofthischapter
B. TheSTRPoperatorisconductingthebusinesslicensedunderthischapterinamanner
contrarytostateorlocalcodeor
C. Anyfactorconditionexistswhich,ifithadexistedatthetimeoftheoriginalapplication

forsuchlicense,wouldhavepermittedthePlanningandTransportationDepartmentto
refuseoriginallytoissuesuchpermit.
OnceaSTRPpermithasbeenrevoked,nonewpermitshallbeissuedtotheapplicantforthe
samepropertyoranyotherpropertyforaperiodoftwo(2)calendaryearsfromthedateofthe
revocation.

4.28.140PenaltiesandEnforcement.

A.Authority.

TheDirectorofthePlanningandTransportationDepartment,andhisorherdesignees,are
thedesignatedenforcementofficialswithfullauthoritytoinvestigate,conductinspections,
acceptregistrationforms,issueSTRPpermits,issuereports,andsecureremedies,including
butnotlimitedtofinesandinjunctivereliefforanyviolationofthischapter.
B.Penalties.

1. Forpurposesofthischapter,aviolationshallbedefinedasaviolationoforfailureto
complywith:
a. Anyprovisionorrequirementofthischapter
b. Anycondition,requirement,orcommitmentestablishedwiththeapprovalofa
varianceissuedbythestatefirepreventionandbuildingsafetycommissionor
c. TherequiredelementsofthesubmissiononthebasisofwhichanySTRP
permithasbeenrenderedhereunder.
2. Anyviolation,asdefinedinthischapter,shallbesubjecttothepenaltiesand
remediesprovidedhereinandthecityshallhaverecoursetoanyremedyavailablein
laworequity.
3. Eachdaythatanyviolationcontinuesshallbeconsideredaseparateviolationfor
purposesofthepenaltiesandremediesspecifiedinSection4.28.130.Aviolation
continuestoexistuntilcorrectedandverifiedbytheDirector,orhisorherdesignees.
Correctionincludes,butisnotlimitedto:
a. Cessationofanunlawfulpractice
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b. Remediationofaviolation
c. Paymentoffeesorfines
d. VacancyofaSTRPand/or
e. Anyotherremedyacceptabletothecity.
4. Forpurposesofissuingpenaltiesandfinesinaccordancewiththischapter,the
followingpersonsshallbeconsideredresponsibleparties,withliabilityforfinesand
responsibilityfortheremediationoftheviolation:
a. Propertyowner
b. STRPoperator
c. Anypersonwithapossessoryinterestinthepropertyand/or
d. Anypersonwhohascausedtheviolation.
5. ThecityLegalDepartmentmayinstituteappropriateactiontoimposeandcollect
fines,fees,and/orotherpenaltiestoenforceordefendanyactiontakenpursuantto
Section4.28.120andtoprevent,enjoin,abate,removeorcorrectanyviolationofor
noncompliancewiththischapter.
6. Theremediesprovidedforinthischaptershallbecumulative,andnotexclusive,and
shallbeinadditiontoanyotherremediesavailableinlaworequity.
7. Anyperson,partnership,association,corporation,orSTRPoperatorwhichviolates
anyprovisionofthischapter,shallbesubjecttothefollowingpenalties:
a. OperatinganSTRPwithoutalicense
i. Firstoffense:$2500.00
ii. Secondoffensewithinanytwelvemonthperiod:$5000.00
iii. Thirdoffenseormorewithinanytwelvemonthperiod:$7500.00
b. Anyotherviolationofthischapter
i. Firstoffense:$500.00
ii. Secondoffensewithinanytwelvemonthperiod:$1000.00
iii. Thirdoffensewithinanytwelvemonthperiod:$2,000.00
iv. Fourthoffenseormorewithinanytwelvemonthperiod:$7,500.00
8. Anypersonissuednoticeofviolationofthischaptershallpaythetotalamountofthe

penaltytothecityofBloomingtonwithinten(10)daysofsuchnotice,unlesssuch
noticeisappealedinconformitywithsubsections(B)(9)and(B)(10)ofthissection.
9. Allappealsofwrittenfindingsofviolationsofthischaptermustbefiledinwriting

withtheboardofpublicworks,onaformprovidedbysaidboard,nolaterthanten
daysfromthedateofthenoticeofviolation.
10. FinesassociatedwithviolationsofthischaptermustbecontestedintheMonroe
CountyCircuitCourts.