On Monday, June 10, 2013, an ordinance regulating residential rentals for less than 30 days narrowly passed on a five-to-four vote by members of the Evanston City Council.
The North Shore–Barrington Association of REALTORS® (NSBAR) argued that any regulatory measures should distinguish property owners that need or desire to rent their home on a short-term basis on an infrequent basis, as opposed to those renting out their property for days, week after week.
Based on NSBAR’s feedback, the City has agreed to four key exemptions, including leases in conjunction with the transfer of real estate and a once-per-year blanket exemption (essentially a freebie). For those seeking to rent their property for less than 30 days more than once a year, a city license will be required.
“NSBAR and four city Aldermen agreed that this ordinance was unnecessary, but the final product is significantly less onerous than the original proposal which sought an outright prohibition on all short term rentals,” said Evanston REALTOR® Mary Rosinski of Coldwell Banker Residential who was active on the issue. “The ordinance’s evolution from egregious to palatable was due to REALTOR advocacy.”
Update: Evanston Now article on the policy change.