STRs great for tourism, but proprietors need protections

by Rep. Doyle Heffley (R-Carbon)

We welcome thousands of visitors each year to the many sights and attractions here in Carbon County. For some residents, this is an opportunity to host out-of-town families – either as an Airbnb or a VRBO (vacation rental by owner).

These sort-term rentals are a wonderful alternative to traditional short-term lodging options. They can help invigorate our local economy and provide additional income options for homeowners or investors. Despite those benefits, though, when a property being used as a short-term rental does not comply with local or state laws, or becomes a nuisance property, it can become problematic for those nearby.

To address these issues, I recently introduced House Bill 1363, which will provide for better enforcement and oversight of Airbnb and VRBO rentals.

I’ve heard these complaints from local residents, and so I have introduced this bill to create a “code of conduct” for short-term rentals, which reiterates the need that these types of rentals need to be in

See STRS, page 14