This chapter shall be known as and may be cited as "short-term
rentals."
The provisions of this chapter shall apply to all residential
dwelling units, conversions of nonresidential structures to residential
dwellings, and all existing premises within the Township of Chestnuthill.
The owner of the subject property shall be responsible for compliance
with the provisions of this chapter and the failure of an owner, agency,
managing agency, local contact person, or renting occupants to comply
with the provisions of this chapter shall be deemed noncompliance
by the owner.
This chapter is not intended to, and does not, excuse any landowner
from compliance with the Chestnuthill Township Zoning Ordinance, as amended from time to time. Whenever possible, this
chapter and the Zoning Ordinance should be construed and interpreted
as being consistent, and not in conflict.
For the purposes of this chapter, words and terms used herein shall have the meanings found in §
119-21 of Chapter
119 of the Code of the Township of Chestnuthill, and as follows:
BEDROOM
A room intended for, or capable of, being used for sleeping
and that is at least 70 square feet in area. Reference Chapter 73
of the DEP regulations, which allows for a peak daily flow based for
residential homes on the number of bedrooms. For example, a three-bedroom
home would require a system designed for 400 gallons per/day, a four-bedroom
home would require a system designed for 500 gallons/day.
PUMPER/HAULER
A person who is the business of pumping/cleaning on-lot sewage
disposal systems and transporting the septage removed from those systems.
SHORT-TERM RENTAL LICENSE
A license granted by the Township permitting a dwelling unit
to be utilized for short-term rental use.
No owner of any property in Chestnuthill Township shall operate
a short-term rental in Chestnuthill Township without first obtaining
a short-term rental license from the Zoning Officer. Operation of
a short-term rental without such short-term rental license is a violation
of this chapter.
The Enforcement Officer shall be the Zoning Officer, as well
as any Assistant Zoning Officer, Building Code Inspector and Sewage
Enforcement Officer appointed by the Board of Supervisors from time
to time. The Enforcement Officer shall have the responsibility and
authority to administer and enforce all provisions of this chapter.
The marketing of a short-term rental in which the advertised
occupancy exceeds the maximum occupancy requirements permitted by
this chapter, or which promotes any other activity which is prohibited
by this chapter, shall be a violation of this chapter.
If it appears to an Enforcement Officer that a violation of
this chapter exists or has occurred, the Enforcement Officer shall
send a written notice of violation to the owner by personal delivery
or by both United States first class and certified mail. The enforcement
notice shall identify the premises which is the subject of the violation,
enumerate the conditions which constitute the violation, cite the
specific sections of this chapter which are violated, indicate the
action required to correct the violation, and provide a time frame
(established by the Enforcement Officer based upon the nature of the
violation) to correct the violation. The Pennsylvania State Police
(PSP) will also be notified of these violations and locations.
In the interest of promoting the public health, safety and welfare,
and minimizing the burden on the Township and community services and
impacts on residential neighborhoods posed by short-term rentals,
a violation of any of the provisions of this chapter is declared to
be a public nuisance.
If the premises are owned by more than one owner, each owner
shall severally be subject to prosecution for a violation of this
chapter.