It is the purpose of this chapter to protect and promote the public health, safety and welfare of the residents of Tredyffrin Township; to establish the obligations of owners of dwelling units used as a short-term rental within Tredyffrin Township; to provide information through the registration of the use with Tredyffrin Township; and to improve the maintenance of short-term rentals and preserve the quality of neighborhoods in which they are located.
[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors of the Township of Tredyffrin 12-5-2022 by Ord. No. HR-460. Amendments noted where applicable.]
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
As defined in § 208-6 of the Tredyffrin Code.
A location where a celebration, ceremony, wedding, reception, corporate function, or similar activity for the benefit of someone other than the property owner takes place on a periodic basis, involving the gathering of individuals assembled for the common purpose of attending a special event.
As defined in § 208-6 of the Tredyffrin Code.
As defined in § 208-6 of the Tredyffrin Code.
As defined in § 208-6 of the Tredyffrin Code.
A.
All short-term rentals shall submit an application for a permit with the Township. The permit shall be valid for one year and must be resubmitted annually to continue to operate the short-term rental. Failure to renew the permit annually will result in immediate termination of the permit. The permit fees shall be as set forth in the Township's Fee Schedule. The Board of Supervisors may establish by resolution, which may be amended from time to time, reasonable fees for the costs the administration and enforcement of this chapter. The application fee shall be submitted with the rental permit application.
B.
No short-term rental shall be occupied by a tenant(s) without a rental permit.
C.
The owner(s) of the short-term rental shall register the use with the Township at least 30 days prior to the occupancy of the short-term rental, on forms provided by the Township, which shall include the following information:
(1)
Address of the short-term rental.
(2)
Description of the portion of the subject property that constitutes the home, including accessory structures, off-street parking facilities, driveways, garages, sheds, swimming pools and trash receptacles.
(3)
Name, permanent address, mailing address, phone number, fax number and email address of the owner, noting whether the owner(s) are individuals, limited-liability companies/partnerships, property trusts, private corporations, or public corporations. In the case of all ownership except that of individuals, the names of the agents or officers of the owner shall be set forth therein with their permanent address, mailing address, phone number, fax number and email address as it applies to the acting agent or officer for the owner.
(4)
The name, address, telephone number and email address of the owner. If the owner does not have a managing agency, agent or local contact person, then the owner shall provide a twenty-four-hour telephone number. If the owner uses a managing agency, agent or local contact person, then such managing agency, agent or local contact person shall have written authorization to accept service for the owners.
(5)
At all times, the owner or a management company must be located within 15 miles from the short-term rental. An agent or local contact person must be selected to act as a person in charge for the short-term rental. The name, address and twenty-four-hour telephone number of the managing agency, agent or local contact person shall be provided in the rental permit application.
D.
If, during the term of the rental permit, the names and above-listed contact information changes, the owner(s) shall submit a supplemental permit application, within five days of the changes, to the Township, to include the new contact information for the rental permit.
A.
Every owner of a short-term rental shall be responsible for regulating the proper use and occupancy of the short-term rental in accordance with this chapter and for regulating the proper conduct and activities of their tenants and guests. Subsections B through C below shall be incorporated as a supplemental rental agreement for short-term rentals in the Township.
B.
Improper conduct and activities shall be, but not limited to, the following conduct and activities within the short-term rental or on the premises thereof:
(1)
Violation of obligations imposed by this chapter and all applicable codes and ordinances of the Township.
(2)
Short-term rentals shall comply with the parking standards contained within § 208-103C(28) of the Zoning Ordinance. In no event shall required parking for short-term rental tenant(s) and/or guests include spaces in any public street, right-of-way or on any lawns or vegetated areas. In no case shall any vehicles park on any lawn or vegetated area on the property.
(3)
Short-term rental tenants and guests shall not engage in disorderly conduct or disturb the peace and quiet of any nearby neighborhood or person by loud, unusual or excessive noise (including fireworks), by tumultuous or offensive conduct, public indecency, threatening, quarreling, challenging to fight, or fighting, or creating a dangerous or physically offensive condition.
(4)
The owner shall use best efforts to assure that the tenant(s) and/or guests of the short-term rental do not create unreasonable noise or disturbances, engage in disorderly conduct, or otherwise violate provisions of the Township Code or any state law pertaining to noise or disorderly conduct, including, but not limited to, notifying the tenant(s) and/or guests of the rules regarding short-term rentals and remedying the issue when notified that tenant(s) and/or guests are violating laws, ordinances or regulations regarding their occupancy.
(5)
Except for trash pickup day, trash and refuse shall not be left or stored on the exterior of the property.
C.
The short-term rental shall not be used as an event space.
A.
This chapter is not intended, nor shall its effect be, to limit any other enforcement remedies which may be available to the Township against an owner, tenant(s) and/or guest thereof found in this code or applicable law.
B.
The Township Manager is authorized to designate the officials of the Township to enforce this chapter.
A.
In the interest of protecting and promoting the public health, safety and welfare, and minimizing the burden on Township and community services and the negative impacts on residential neighborhoods posed by short-term rentals, a violation of any of the provisions of this chapter shall be declared to be a public nuisance.
B.
This chapter shall be enforced by an action brought before a Magisterial District Judge in the same manner provided for the enforcement of summary offenses under the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure. Any person, partnership, corporation or other entity who or which violates or permits a violation of the provisions of this chapter shall, upon conviction in a summary proceeding, pay a fine of not less than $100 nor more than $1,000 per violation, plus all court costs and reasonable counsel fees incurred by the Township in the enforcement proceedings and/or be imprisoned to the extent permitted by law for the punishment of summary offenses. Each day or portion thereof that a violation exists or continues shall constitute a separate violation. Further, the appropriate officers or agents of the Township are hereby authorized to institute appropriate actions or proceedings at law or in equity to enforce compliance with this chapter. All fines, penalties costs, and reasonable counsel fees collected for a violation of this chapter shall be paid to the Township for its general use.
C.
In addition to, but not in limitation of, the provisions of § 150-4, the Township may either revoke or deny an application to renew a short-term rental permit for three uncured or repeated violations of this chapter in any rolling twelve-calendar-month period. The revocation or denial to renew a short-term rental permit shall continue for one year from the date of the third violation.