It is the purpose of
this article to ensure that the quality of short-term rentals operating
within the Town is adequate for protecting the health, safety and
general welfare, including establishing minimum standards of space
for human occupancy, and for an adequate level of maintenance; determining
the responsibilities of owners, operators and property managers offering
properties for tourists and transient occupants, to protect the character
and stability of all areas, especially residential areas, within the
Town of Rome; to provide minimum standards necessary for the health
and safety of persons occupying or using buildings, structures or
premises; and provisions for the administration and enforcement thereof.
An annual fee shall be set by the Town Board. Fees are nonrefundable
and shall not be prorated. Any renewal application received after
the expiration date may be subject to a double fee.
Each short-term rental shall comply with this section's requirements,
along with all other Town of Rome ordinances. Each short-term rental
shall meet the following minimum requirements:
A. The maximum number of occupants allowed in any unit shall not exceed
the following limits: not less than 150 square feet of floor space
for the first occupant thereof, and at least an additional 100 square
feet of floor space for every additional occupant thereof; the floor
space shall be calculated on the basis of total habitable room area.
Floor space is determined by using interior measurements of each room.
Floor space does not include kitchens, bathrooms, closets, garages
or rooms not meeting Uniform Dwelling Code requirements for occupancy.
The maximum occupancy for any premises without a separate enclosed
bedroom is two people.
B. One internal bathroom for every four occupants.
C. Not less than two on-site off-street parking space for every four
occupants based upon maximum occupancy.
D. A sign shall be posted in a conspicuous place inside the rental unit, during the license duration, specifying information on approved parking spaces, Town regulations of discharge of fireworks as designated in Chapter
196, Fireworks, of the Code of the Town of Rome, lake rules, limitations on loud and unnecessary noise as designated in Chapter
260, Noise, of the Code of the Town of Rome, and Town burning regulations under Chapter
191, Fires and Fire Prevention.
E. Shall have functional smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors
in accordance with the requirements of Chapter SPS 321 of the Wisconsin
Administrative Code.
F. No vehicular traffic shall be generated that is greater than normally
expected in the neighborhood for the district for which the dwelling
is zoned.
G. There shall not be excessive noise, fumes, glare, or vibrations generated
during the use of the dwelling as a short-term rental.
H. Nameplates or other outdoor signage shall not exceed one square foot.
No other signage advertising the short-term rental is permitted on
site.
I. Each short-term rental shall maintain the following written records
for each rental of the dwelling unit: the full name and current address
of any person renting the property, the time period for that rental,
and the monetary amount or consideration paid for that rental. Quarterly,
on a form created and provided by the Town, every licensee shall certify
and report to the Town a summary of these records.
J. Whenever the Town Clerk/Treasurer has probable cause to believe that
records submitted are not correct, or that probable cause exists to
believe that a dwelling unit is not in compliance with this article,
the Town Clerk/Treasurer may inspect and audit the written records
for each rental of the dwelling unit to determine compliance with
the requirements of this article.
The denial of a short-term rental license application or renewal
under this article may be appealed by filing a written appeal request
with the Clerk/Treasurer within 10 days of the Town's notice of denial.
The appeal shall be heard by the Town Board, which shall consider
the application or renewal and staff recommendations and may approve
or deny the application or renewal.
Any person who operates a short-term rental within the Town of Rome for more than 10 nights in a 365-day period, without a license, shall be deemed an illegal operation, and upon conviction, be subject to a forfeiture per §
1-5, General penalty, together with the costs of prosecution. Each day a violation exists or continues shall constitute a separate offense. Prosecutions of violations of provisions of this article shall be commenced by citation pursuant to Chapter 800, Wis. Stats.