Here is the ordinance: http://southwebercity.com/file/2019/02/Ord-2019-Short-term-and-Vacation-Rentals-Revised-Jan-29-2019.pdf

Background: This ordinance was created to target one particular short term rental in order to shut it down.  It has been created out of corruption from day 1 and there are several loopholes in it that give the city unlimited power to shut down any short term rental without due process.

10.18.110 Complaints - This section states that after 3 complaints the short term planning commission can revoke the permit. This allows anyone who has favor with the any member of the planning commission to influence this body.  It also allows any competitor or upset neighbor to call in complaints with no evidence.  Instead it should be required that a conviction is entered by a court.  The planning commission shouldn't be given the power of judge, jury, and executioner. 

10.18.060 Parking - Our attorneys have reviewed this and are of the opinion it doesn't prohibit people from parking in the street. It only states that off street parking must be provided.  This entire section should just be removed and the short term renters should be subject to the pre-existing local laws. The city is now sending police over and raiding us if cars are parked in the street or sidewalk for just a few minutes, but our neighbors have their cars parked in the street and blocking the sidewalk continually.  This is no different than saying only whites can use certain bathrooms and colored people have to use their own.  There is nothing more offensive or disruptive about short term renters vehicles than other neighbors and there is no law prohibiting or limiting the number of cars that can park in the street. If the city thinks it is a problem then they can change the laws for everyone in a fair way and limit parking for everyone.   Short term rental operators do say in the rules not to park in the street, and make an attempt to fine and dissuade renters from parking there.  However, the renters see other cars parked in the street so their brain just doesn't compute that it is illegal for them to park in the street when they see other people parking in the street.  It is even legal for neighbors to park in front of short term rentals houses, but it is illegal for a short term rental operator to park in front of his or her own house.  When asked point blank if the owner could park in the street or if long term tenants could park in the street the Firemarshal Chris Tremea's reponse was: "Well I  would prefer if you didn't." Which goes to show they make the law up as they go along and if people complain those complaints are the word of law.

Now think of the frustration to the short term rental operator/owner who constantly has to live in fear that at any moment he or she can lose thousands to tens of thousands in revenue at the drop of a hat if one guest parks in the street or if some random unrelated person parks in the street. 

The parking law doesn't define how far away from the property people can park in the street it says "There can be no more cars at the vacation rental than the number of bedrooms." But on the same token they are issuing complaints if people are parked in on public roads hundreds of yards away from the property.   What if they go 1 mile away then can they park on a public street? What if they park at a public park n ride, that is public property as well so is that illegal? What if they go 500 feet away from the property is that illegal?  This entire section of the law has so many flaws it shouldn't even have seen the light of day. 

Anyone can park in front of a competitors house and call in a complaint that there is a car in the street, and it will be at the discretion of the Firemarshall or city if they enforce it.  If you are on their good side they will look the other way, but if they don't like you they can count it as a complaint and shut you down.  So as you can see this law gives the city unlimited power to shut down their enemies while giving their friends or donors the ability to operate freely.