Leet Township commissioners consider short-term rental regulations

Leet officials want to adopt new rules and restrictions before people start opening short-term rental properties in the township.

The township commissioners are expected to pass a proposed ordinance Feb. 12 regulating residential accommodations leased for less than 30 days.

The planning commission reviewed similar ordinances from Sewickley, Edgeworth and Emsworth as part of the ordinance crafting process.

Township Solicitor Stephen Chesney made its final draft to ensure its rules followed case law and is suitable for the township.

“We’ve been working on it for about a year now ever since the city of Pittsburgh’s issues in the North Side,” said planning commission chairman Joe Ferrang. “This is (Chesney’s) latest version of what we had presented to the commissioners.”

Ferrang’s Pittsburgh reference was in regard to a fatal shooting in the city’s North Side April 17, 2022. About 200 people, many underage, were at a part in an Airbnb rental property when at least one person opened fire.

Two people were killed and eight were injured. The city has since adopted short-term rental regulations such as requiring inspections and permits.

Leet’s planning commission is a recommending body. Township commissioners can make the proposal law.

Proposed rules include:

• Maximum of six lodgers per night per dwelling.

• Maximum of one rental contract per night, with all lodgers on that same contract.

• Events and activities such as banquets, parties, weddings, fundraisers and luncheons are prohibited.

• Must have at least one off-street parking space for lodgers per dwelling or bedroom.

• Short-term rental operators must get an occupancy permit from the township.

The ordinance is available for review at the township building, 194 Ambridge Ave.

The township commissioners tabled the proposed ordinance earlier this month for further discussion.

“Many municipalities have begun to regulate short-term rentals, which have became popular such as Airbnb,” commissioners President Martin McDaniel said. “The township currently annually inspects long-term rentals (more than 30 days) to ensure health and safety of tenants. … There seems to be an overall consensus on most provisions.”

One issue that has not been resolved is whether to require the owner to occupy the short-term rental.

The current draft requires the rental owner to be its permanent resident.

McDaniel said he is unaware of any short-term rentals in operation in the township.

Ferrang sees the ordinance as a proactive measure.

“We don’t really live in a resort area,” he said. “It’s more effective for places that have golf tournament and resort towns.

Our issue is with the partying. We have stipulations that you can’t have a party. We also wanted to regulate parking. We have mostly residential single-family home-type areas here.”

Ferrang hopes more municipalities use Leet’s ordinance once it passes.