City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: NOVEMBER 8, 2017
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
FROM: MARK B. JINKS, CITY MANAGER /s/
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Introduction and First Reading. Passage on First Reading of an Ordinance to Amend Section 3-2-141 (Transient Lodging Definitions) and to adopt Section 3-2-152 (Short-Term Residential Registry) of the Code of the City of Alexandria, Virginia.
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ISSUE: Should the City require registration of short-term residential rental properties, as well as clarify the applicability of the City's Transient Lodging Tax to such rentals?
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council pass the proposed ordinance (Attachment 2) on first reading and schedule it for public hearing, second reading and final passage on November 18, 2017.
DISCUSSION: Effective July 1, 2017, Section 15.2-983 of the Code of Virginia was enacted by the General Assembly, giving localities the authority to establish a registry to identify properties being offered as short-term residential rentals. This activity is also referred to as "home sharing," and is typically marketed through online computer platforms, such as those maintained by Airbnb, Expedia, Flipkey and others.
The 2017 enabling legislation was preceded in 2016 by deliberations of a Virginia Housing Commission work group on this subject, including representatives from the hotel industry, hosting platform providers, local government, state and local tax officials, property owners, and other interested parties. The final legislation was supported by the Virginia Restaurant, Lodging and Travel Association. This state law is also consistent with the position of the City's 2017 Legislative Package, calling for short-term residential rentals to be "registered so that the City knows their location;" require them "to pay all appropriate taxes;" and, "to abide by appropriate zoning regulations."
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