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Short Term Rentals in Bozeman, Montana

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178 registered responses


Are you a full-time, part-time, or nonresident of Bozeman?

Response Percent Response Count
Full-time Bozeman resident. 89.3% 159
Part-time Bozeman resident. 6.7% 12
Nonresident of Bozeman. 3.9% 7

Are there Short-Term Rentals in your neighborhood?

Response Percent Response Count
Yes 73.6% 131
No 4.5% 8
Not sure 21.9% 39

If you live in Bozeman, what is the impact of Short-Term Rentals (STRs) in your neighborhood?

Response Percent Response Count
I feel STRs have a positive impact on my neighborhood. 43.8% 77
I feel STRs have both positive and negative impacts on my neighborhood. 22.7% 40
I feel STRs have a negative impact on my neighborhood. 19.3% 34
I feel STRs have no impact on my neighborhood. 10.8% 19
I have no opinion on how they impact my neighborhood. 3.4% 6

If you believe Short-Term Rentals (STRs) have positive impacts, why? (select all that apply)

Response Percent Response Count
It's an opportunity to meet new people. 43.6% 58
STR properties are usually well cared for. 84.2% 112
There are fewer empty/dark houses in my neighborhood. 47.4% 63
Other 46.6% 62

If you believe Short-Term Rentals have negative impacts, why? (select all that apply)

Response Percent Response Count
Parking 63.9% 62
Noise 43.3% 42
Litter 18.6% 18
Neighborhood character has changed (please explain in the "other" box) 43.3% 42
Effect on supply of housing 56.7% 55
Safety issues 21.6% 21
Other 44.3% 43

Do you agree or disagree with the following regarding Short-Term Rentals (STRs)?

STRs should require a permit and be assessed fees.
Response Percent Response Count
Agree 61.2% 109
Disagree 35.4% 63
STRs should have a limit on the number of guests.
Response Percent Response Count
Agree 63.5% 113
Disagree 33.1% 59
There should be a density cap (only a certain number of STRs allowed per area/block).
Response Percent Response Count
Agree 45.5% 81
Disagree 51.1% 91
The property owner should reside on-site.
Response Percent Response Count
Agree 26.4% 47
Disagree 69.1% 123
If the property owner is not on-site, there should be a local property manager / responsible person.
Response Percent Response Count
Agree 78.7% 140
Disagree 20.2% 36
The City should not regulate STRs.
Response Percent Response Count
Agree 32.6% 58
Disagree 60.7% 108

Short-Term Rentals should be allowed in the following locations. (select all that apply)

Response Percent Response Count
Low-density residential neighborhoods (mostly single-household) 73.6% 131
Medium-density residential neighborhoods (some single-household, some multi-household properties) 77.5% 138
High-density residential (mostly apartments, condos, multi-household properties) 73.6% 131
Mixed-use areas (some residential, some commercial) 80.9% 144
Commercial areas 59.6% 106
They should not be allowed in the City of Bozeman. 7.9% 14

How often should Short-Term Rentals be inspected?

Response Percent Response Count
Only when initially permitted 12.4% 22
Annually 33.7% 60
Every 3 years 22.5% 40
Never 31.5% 56

My primary reason for owning / operating a Short-Term Rental (STR) is...

Response Percent Response Count
To make additional income. 28.0% 47
To pay the mortgage. 22.6% 38
I live there part-time and don't want to leave it empty. 13.7% 23
My business is owning / operating and renting out properties. 2.4% 4
I do not own / operate a STR. 60.7% 102
Other 13.7% 23

Please share any additional comments.

Answered
110
Skipped
68
Kent Madin inside Quadrant SE
December 29, 2016, 11:30 AM
  • Are you a full-time, part-time, or nonresident of Bozeman?
    • Full-time Bozeman resident.
  • Are there Short-Term Rentals in your neighborhood?
    • Yes
  • If you live in Bozeman, what is the impact of Short-Term Rentals (STRs) in your neighborhood?
    • I feel STRs have a positive impact on my neighborhood.
  • If you believe Short-Term Rentals (STRs) have positive impacts, why? (select all that apply)
    • It's an opportunity to meet new people.
    • STR properties are usually well cared for.
    • Other - This non-traditional use of homes is inevitable and offers great financial benefits to homeowners.
  • If you believe Short-Term Rentals have negative impacts, why? (select all that apply)
    • Parking
    • Neighborhood character has changed (please explain in the "other" box)
    • Other - Neighborhood character doesn't have to change, it depends on how greedy owners are and how diligently owners set a firm and clear tone for behavior.
  • Do you agree or disagree with the following regarding Short-Term Rentals (STRs)?
    • STRs should require a permit and be assessed fees. - Agree
    • STRs should have a limit on the number of guests. - Agree
    • There should be a density cap (only a certain number of STRs allowed per area/block). - Agree
    • The property owner should reside on-site. - Agree
    • If the property owner is not on-site, there should be a local property manager / responsible person. - Agree
    • The City should not regulate STRs. - Disagree
  • Short-Term Rentals should be allowed in the following locations. (select all that apply)
    • Low-density residential neighborhoods (mostly single-household)
    • Medium-density residential neighborhoods (some single-household, some multi-household properties)
    • High-density residential (mostly apartments, condos, multi-household properties)
    • Mixed-use areas (some residential, some commercial)
  • How often should Short-Term Rentals be inspected?
    • Every 3 years
  • My primary reason for owning / operating a Short-Term Rental (STR) is...
    • To make additional income.
  • Please share any additional comments.

    We own an STR but it is B3 zoned, so much of this issue does not directly effect our STR. That said, these are my thoughts regarding the larger issue given our own very positive experience so far as owners.

    The STR question is analogous to the infamous "Commons" and it's tragedy wherein both laziness and individual greed destroy the very resource everyone shares. The way to address this is with regs that codify the more tangible standards (code compliance, tax collection, noise regs) and also the less tangible issue of the overall "character or tone" of STR renting in Bozeman. To the latter end, I would ban "instabook" across the board (in the long term, this could be a positive marketing move as well. It never hurts to make your product just a little more exclusive).

    Both the major players, VRBO and Airbnb, offer a version of "instabook" where anyone can confirm a rental without any vetting by the owner. This ease of use/lazy procedure moves the process away from responsibility and diligence on the part of both renter and owner. Being willing to invest the time and know SOMETHING about the potential renter, their purpose in visiting bozeman, etc. is a first level of screening out undesirable uses and of establishing for the incoming renter that this is not just a cheap motel where they can behave badly. The simple step of disallowing Instant booking will weed out some of the lazy and the greedy owners and would insure that fewer "hidden costs" in the form of bad actors, unsafe situations, curdled neighborhood feelings, police calls, are born by the owner, not the community at large. Banning instabook means that the original notion of Airbnb (promoting people getting to know each other and hence respect the process and place) is reinforced. If an owner can't find the time to vet their potential renters, then they are not serious about their responsibility to the larger community in terms of setting a positive "tone" for rentals in Bozeman. Banning instabook, as a way of fostering responsibility and accountability on both parties parts, is as understandable as requiring safe, code compliant spaces, transparent tax collection and payments, etc. All of those things, if enforced by a combination of regs and "tone" will ensure the long term sustainability of the str market.

    In this STR matter, the Commission has an opportunity to foster a distinctive "character" surrounding STR rentals in our town. Over time, word gets around that Bozeman and all it's STR owners share a common vision that balances safe, reasonable rentals with controls on the negative impacts. All STR rentals would benefit from the "buzz" on Airbnb and VRBO that Bozeman is a little different. If you are going to come here you need more than your credit card and a couple of clicks. You'll need to acknowledge the expected standards of behavior by the simple act of interacting with your host before being booked. And, if it is a regulation that no one can use instabook and be legal, then the playing field is flat.

    And to that end, I would suggest the City work up some kind of pledge or statement of purpose that any owner agrees to comply with and foster.. Something along the lines of "Bozeman is my home, a great place to live and work and visit. As a community we welcome STR guests who respect our rules and appreciate the small town values that we all hold dear" (anyhow, you get the idea...). This would then be featured on all the individual rental sites, could even have a checkbox to insure people have read it, like a terms of service agreement.
    If every STR in Bozeman, on all STR rental sites, featured that kind of pledge, it would be good marketing. It would also establish, from the gitgo, that we don't rent out "Animal houses" with their attendant headaches.

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Agree
Disagree
STRs should require a permit and be assessed fees.
STRs should have a limit on the number of guests.
There should be a density cap (only a certain number of STRs allowed per area/block).
The property owner should reside on-site.
If the property owner is not on-site, there should be a local property manager / responsible person.
The City should not regulate STRs.
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