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    Home » BREAKING NEWS: Arizona House Bill 2711 Amendment Could Halt Sedona Short Term Rentals
    Sedona News

    BREAKING NEWS: Arizona House Bill 2711 Amendment Could Halt Sedona Short Term Rentals

    February 14, 2022Updated:February 16, 20224 Comments5 Mins Read
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    By Will Hamburg/Associate Broker/Investor

    Update: The hearing in the House Land, Agriculture, and Rural Affairs (LARA) Committee that was on February 14, 2022, passed 10-1 in favor of House Bill 2711. Keep a lookout for future updates on this bill by bookmarking our site and checking back tomorrow.

     

    Sedona AZ –A new amendment to the Arizona House Bill 2711 could stop investors from doing short-term rentals in Sedona.

    Will Hamburg

    House Bill 2711 (HB2711), is a bill that was originally introduced by Representative Becky Nutt, (R) and passed the Arizona House of Representatives in 2021. The bill proposes to impose restrictions on short-term rentals with cities and towns that have a population of fewer than 17,000 people.

    Today a new amendment is trying to sneak through that you need to be aware of.

    Sponsored by Representative Brenda Barton (R), a new amendment is scheduled for a hearing in the House Land, Agriculture, and Rural Affairs (LARA) Committee Monday, Feb. 14, 2022, at 2 p.m. This bill will provide more authority for small, rural communities to regulate short-term rentals.

    What the bill says:

    HB 2711 allows a city or town with a population of less than 17,000:

    • To require a short-term rental owner to maintain a permit or license issued by the city or town.
    • To limit the number of short-term rentals based on a percentage of total residentially zoned buildings or structures in the city/town (no specific percentage referenced).
    • Regulate short-term rentals in the same manner as transient lodging activities for public health and safety, not through taxes.

    Currently, the bill that already passed includes:

    • Requires homeowners to obtain a short-term lodging license.
    • To require that all monies collected from permitting, licensing, and fees go exclusively to the city or town to offset administrative costs associated with regulating short-term rentals.
    • Requires that a local emergency contact is on file.
    • Restricts short-term rentals from conducting any type of commercial business such as weddings and events.

    What it means for cities that support short-term rentals:

    The amendment could greatly affect tourism communities where homeowners rent out their homes on a weekly basis during high seasons, like music festivals, film festivals, mountain bike events, skiing and snowboarding events, etc.

    In Arizona, communities like Sedona, Flagstaff, Prescott Valley, and Payson would be affected the most.

    Regardless of where you stand with vacation rentals, blanket legislation changes like this are NOT the way to solve the problem.

    A better solution may be to follow the highly successful In Deed law that Vail, Colorado has been implementing for some time now.

    The Vail InDEED was, “created to incentivize homeowners and real estate buyers/sellers to deed restrict their property to help the Town meet the 2027 Housing Strategic Plan goal of acquiring an additional 1,000 deed-restricted units by the year 2027 and helps to reach the goal of maintaining and sustaining homes for residents within the community.”

    The property must be occupied as a primary residence by individuals who work a minimum of 30 hours per week in Eagle County.

    Modeling the Vail InDeed program would be a much better solution to actually create quantifiable solutions and incentives for homeowners and investors to purchase property for local workers and families.

    How you can help:

    1.) Don’t react emotionally and rant about how big of a problem short-term rentals are. Take time to learn more about the Vail InDeed program and how it works. Speak with a local realtor, investor, or property manager to hear both sides of the story.

    2.) Do something about it! If you are for or against it then participate in your local meetings discussing how to solve these issues. Speak with your local legislators and be intentional about who you vote for.

    3.) Share this article and ask your network what they think. Get a conversation going

    4.) Contact your local legislators!

    If you are planning to buy an investment property someday or already own one, you can contact your local representative in Arizona and let them know how the bill would affect you and your business.

    You can email Representative Barton and also reach out to all members of the House LARA Committee:

    • Chairman Tim Dunn tdunn@azleg.gov (602) 926-4139
    • Vice-Chairman Joel John jjohn@azleg.gov (602) 926-3276
    • Rep. Brenda Barton bbarton@azleg.gov (602) 926-3421
    • Rep. David Cook dcook@azleg.gov (602) 926-5162
    • Rep. Lupe Diaz ldiaz@azleg.gov (602) 926-4852
    • Rep. Gail Griffin ggriffin@azleg.gov (602) 926-5895
    • Rep. Jasmine Blackwater-Nygren jblackwater-nygren@azleg.gov (602) 926-3069
    • Rep. Andrew Dalessandro adalessandro@azleg.gov (602) 926-5342
    • Rep. Mitzi Epstein mepstein@azleg.gov (602) 926-4870
    • Rep. Brian Fernandez bfernandez@azleg.gov (602) 926-3098
    • Rep. Lorenzo Sierra lsierra@azleg.gov (602) 926-3211

    Tell them about Vail’s InDEED program and let them know you oppose blanket legislation like today’s HB 2711 and its amendments. Let’s work together to ensure fair laws for small towns and big cities alike.

    This is important to ALL Arizona residents, no matter where you live!

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    4 Comments

    1. DJ on February 14, 2022 4:56 pm

      Will, you’re a Sedona realtor aren’t you? You have your own pony in this race, don’t you? You try living next to one of these short term vacation rentals. They’re loud, messy and NOT well regulated. We’re the ones at the mercy of the county sheriff to do anything about the noise and parking issues. l read that new bill. It sounds just fine with me. Those vacation business need to be regulated & everyone needs to be licensed, like all business. Or do you not agree with that? That’s the American way!!!

      • Kristin Elizabeth Regina on February 27, 2022 3:19 pm

        It is your opinion that the Vail InDEED is a better solution. Expecting a voluntary deed restriction from homeowners who are leaving the area to make any difference makes no sense. Sedona currently has 13% BnBs or STRS. Adding 1,000 deed-restricted properties will not add any regulation or prevent more STRs. If we magically had all 1,000 of these deed-restricted homes overnight what would change here?

        In this current climate, why would 1,000 homeowners voluntarily decrease the resale value of their property?
        A house on Sanborn recently sold for 1.8 million. I think the owner would rather get that 1.8 million than take what it is worth if it could not be a commercial property. Volunteer, to take less than $1,000,000.? This sounds like wishful thinking.

        Most residents support the regulation of STRs and believe this law is necessary to preserve the community.
        HB 2711 allows a city or town with a population of less than 17,000:

        To require a short-term rental owner to maintain a permit or license issued by the city or town. This sounds like a great idea and one that is necessary; all businesses have business licenses!

        To limit the number of short-term rentals based on a percentage of total residentially zoned buildings or structures in the city/town (no specific percentage referenced). This would decrease the free for all of the investors buying up every home and outbidding real people who are trying to live here.

        Regulate short-term rentals in the same manner as transient lodging activities for public health and safety, not through taxes. Again, this is the right thing to do. Having public welfare safeguards makes sense, why should these houses be exempt from the rules? Large corporations are buying up homes and getting into the BnB game, they can follow the safety regulations as all hotels and motels do.

    2. JJSedona on February 14, 2022 10:51 pm

      Obviously, the person paying the mortgage/taxes/etc has the say as to who stays in their home or not. When Airbnb began, it was mostly people renting out IUD/guest house/spare rooms on a platform that just about guaranteed a screened guest and prompt payment. The fact of the matter is that Sedona is an expensive place to live and side gigs are a necessity to be able to afford to live here. Further, homes that have Airbnb guest have improved their appearance over the years with new paint, roofs and landscaping (noticeable difference in my area). It seems that it is the investors who purchase homes/land in Sedona to build/create a home hotels in once quiet residential neighborhoods.These investors have no skin in the game when it comes to what it takes to make a livable community – they are only here to cash in on a steady flow of tourist, riding Sedona’s shirttails all the way to the bank with very little law or restrictions stopping them. It’s true – they own the home – and they have a right to what every other private property owner is afforded under SB1350. Good for them. Bad for anyone who wishes to live in the same city they work in.
      Sedona has a very top-heavy City Administration for a town with less than 10,000 full-time residents. Perhaps the short-term rental office could actually be a rental platform in direct competition with Airbnb. Create a website that will do everything that Airbnb does, but better. It will be better because the city will profit. All monies earned could fund rent assistance for those working in Sedona – bridging the gap between what is affordable and what the homeowner would get if rented thru short-term rentals. It certainly would give the city a new way of looking at short term rentals. Beat them at their own game.

    3. RJ on February 21, 2022 11:07 am

      Defund the Sedona Chamber permanently now.

    Paid Political Ad Paid For by Samaire for Mayor
    Paid Political Ad for Samaire Armstrong
    Paid Political Announcement by Samaire For Mayor

     THE MOMENT IS UPON US

    Dear Sedona,

    The moment is upon us. The time for a united effort to shift the focus back to our community is now.

    The ability to thrive in our community, our environment, our workforce, and the tourist industry, is entirely possible because we have all the resources needed for success.

    Still, we need a council that isn’t afraid to ask the hard questions, that makes decisions based on data and facts, and through discussion, rather than moving and voting in group unison as they so regularly do.

    This is my home. I have been a part of the Sedona community for 28 years. I witnessed the road debacle, the lack of planning, the city circumventing the local businesses ability to thrive, while making choices to expand the local government and be in direct competition with private industry.

    I am a unique candidate because unlike the incumbents, I don’t believe the government should expand in size, nor in operations, nor would I attempt to micromanage every aspect of our community.

    City government should stay in its lane and allow the competitive market of local private industry to prosper. And it should defend our community from corporate takeover and infiltration of our town.

    I do not agree that we should sign onto International Building Codes and regulations by signing Sedona up to the ICC. It is imperative that we remain a sweet, rural community.

    Where are the arts? Where is this organic thriving element that we allege to be animated by. Where is our culture? Where is our community?

    The discord between the decision making process and the desires of the community have never been more clear. It has been nearly a decade in the making.

    It is time for a new era of energy to take charge. An energy that is reflective in the ability to succeed rather than be trapped in out of date consciousness.

    It has been a great honor meeting with each of you. I hear your concerns over the insane and out of control spending and I echo them. A budget of $105,000,000 in a town of 9700 residents is completely unacceptable. A parking structure (that looks like a shoe box) originally slated to cost 11 million, now projected to cost 18 million, is incomprehensible. Especially, considering there is no intention of charging for parking.

    For those who are concerned that I lack the political experience within our established system- that is precisely what Sedona needs… Not another politician, but instead a person who understands people, who listens to the voices within the community, and who will act in service on their behalf with accountability, for the highest good of Sedona. What I am not, will prove to be an asset as I navigate the entrenched bureaucracy with a fresh perspective. Business as usual, is over.

    Creative solutions require new energy.

    Every decision that is made by our local government, must contemplate Sedona first.

    • Does this decision benefit the residents?
    • Does this decision benefit the local businesses?
    • Does this decision actually help the environment?
    • Will this decision sustain benefit in the future, or will it bring more problems?

    What we have now is a city government that expands to 165 employees for 9700 residents. Palm Desert has 53,000 residents and 119 city employees. Majority of our city department heads are not even in town. I find this problematic.

    Efforts towards championing in and courting new solutions for our medical needs are imperative. We are losing our doctors. We must encourage competition with other facilities rather than be held hostage by NAH, who clearly have their own set of dysfunctions.

    We must remember that so many move to Sedona for its beauty, hiking, and small town charm. Bigger, faster, and more concrete does not, in broad strokes, fit the ethos of Sedona.

    The old world must remain strong here in balance, as that is what visitors want to experience. Too many have noted that Sedona has lost its edge and charm.

    As Mayor I will preserve the rural charm of our community, and push back against the urbanization that is planned for Sedona.

    As mayor I will make it a priority to create opportunities to support our youth.  After school healthy, enriching programs should be created for our kids, and available to the Sedona workforce regardless of residency and regardless of school they belong to.

    As Mayor, I will create an agenda to deliberately embody the consciousness of our collective needs here, allowing private industry to meet the needs of our community rather than bigger government.

    I hope to have your vote on Aug 2nd. I am excited and have the energy to take on this leadership role with new eyes, community perspective, and the thoughtful consciousness that reflects all ages of the human spectrum.

    Thank you deeply for your consideration.

    Sincerely,

    Samaire Armstrong

    Sedona elections
    Armstrong vs. Jablow: The Main Event
    Ready to Rumble

    By Tommy Acosta
    In the Blue Corner stands Scott Jablow and in the Red Corner of the ring stands Samaire Armstrong, ready to rumble to the bitter end in their fight to become the next Sedona mayor. Jablow weighs in with 1,137 primary election votes (36.13%) under his belt, having wielded his advantage as sitting Sedona City Council vice-mayor to his favor. He brings his years of serving in that capacity into the fray and waged a solid fight in his campaign to make it to the run-off. Armstrong, however withstood a blistering smear campaign from the other opposing candidates and their supporters to make it to the final bout with 967 votes under her belt (30.73%), an amazing feat for a political newcomer. Unfortunately, for the other two candidates, Kurt Gehlbach and sitting mayor Sandy Moriarty, neither put up enough of a fight to make it to the championship bout. Read more→
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