Latest news with #cityordinance
CBS News
3 days ago
- Business
- CBS News
Dearborn city council considers ordinance targeting short-term rentals
The City of Dearborn is cracking down on short-term rentals. On Tuesday, the city council will consider changes to the ordinances that determine how short-term rentals operate in the city. The council will vote on the measure that seeks to clearly define what a short-term rental is and where it can operate. Depending on the outcome, it could have a big impact on property owners who depend on those units to support their families. In February, Basel Musaed converted his home on the west side of Dearborn into a short-term rental. That's when he found Airbnb. "I've been doing long terms for quite a while, and I just haven't seen like a great return in investment, to be honest with you, and I want to try something different," Musaed said. "It's a night and day difference. I've been very much successful since that point." The city is proposing to allow short-term rentals in only specific areas of the east and west sides of downtown. It would also prohibit short-term rentals from operating within Dearborn's single-family residential neighborhoods. "I feed my family with this, you know. I've already made more in the short few months that I've done Airbnb than I've made with all my long-term property houses combined," Musaed said. In a statement, a representative with the city of Dearborn says: The measure before City Council balances the needs of our neighborhoods and small business owners by creating new rules for operating short-term rentals in the City of Dearborn. What has been proposed to the Council addresses feedback that we've received from residents about concerns with short-term rentals operating in residential areas, and feedback we've received from the owners of these properties, who depend on their rentals as a source of believe that limiting short-term rentals to commercial areas, like our downtown districts, will protect housing stock for residents, including long-term renters; alleviate noise and other nuisances in quiet neighborhoods; and still offer options to those seeking to book or profit from short-term stays. We are joining cities across the country in creating updated regulations to meet challenges these businesses may present." Property owners would also be required to register their rental units with the city and maintain a license. "I feel like if we continue with this ban, there's a lot of opportunity to be to be lost. There's a lot of businesses are going to take a hit. There's a lot of people who are going to be very reluctant to even show up to the city, because now it's like, if I can't live comfortably, I don't want to come here, you know," Musaed said. If the city council approves the measure on Tuesday, the changes would go into effect on October 27.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
What Topeka ordinances say about noisy neighbors, barking dogs and loud music
When barking dogs or blaring music disturb their peace, Topekans can remedy that by reporting it. The city can then address the problem and cite the noisemaker in connection with violating any of various ordinances listed in Article II of Section 9.45 of city code. To submit a noise complaint, call the Topeka Police Department at 785-368-9551, according to the city's website. Residents being kept awake by barking dogs might be glad to know that city code 9.45.330 bans "the keeping or harboring of any animal which by causing frequent or long continued noise shall disturb the comfort or repose of any persons in the vicinity." City animal control officers don't respond to barking dog calls, the city's website says. "Topeka Police Officers respond to these complaints under the noise violation ordinance," it says. City code 9.45.190 bans the use or operation of any device that produces or amplifies sound in a manner that disturbs the peace, quiet and comfort of others between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. For a violation to occur, the sound must be "audible at a distance of 50 feet from the premises, building structure or vehicle in which the device is located,' the ordinance says. Construction-wise, the city bans between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m. 'the erection (including excavation), demolition, exterior alteration or exterior repair of any building or exterior construction project.' It prohibits the operation between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. 'of any pile driver, steam shovel, pneumatic hammer, derrick, steam or electric hoist or other appliance, the use of which is attended by loud or unusual noise.' The city's rules call for its officials, in determining whether a noise ordinance has been violated, to take into account: The volume of the noise. The intensity of the noise. Whether the nature of the noise is usual or unusual. Whether the origin of the noise is natural or unnatural. The volume and intensity of the background noise, if any. The proximity of the noise to residences. The nature and zoning of the area within which the noise emanates. The density of the inhabitation of the area within which the noise emanates. The time of day or night the noise occurs. The duration of the noise. Whether the noise is recurrent, intermittent or constant. And whether the noise is produced by a commercial or noncommercial activity. Shawnee County has considerably less-restrictive rules governing its unincorporated areas than the city does regarding noise. The county's rules ban noise from the discharge, explosion or use of any fireworks is except from 8 a.m. to midnight on June 27 to July 4. They also prohibit "the keeping or harboring of any canine which by causing frequent or long continued noise shall disturb the comfort or repose of any persons in the vicinity." Commissioners put the county's rules in place about 20 years ago, removing numerous requirements from the initial version of the proposal involved after residents said one reason they moved to rural areas was so they could have the freedom to make noise. Contact Tim Hrenchir at threnchir@ or 785-213-5934. This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Topeka ordinances spell out remedies for barking dogs and loud music
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
St. Cloud lawn care rules change: What to know about new fees, grass height requirement
There are new rules in St. Cloud when it comes to lawn care. With these rules, comes higher fees for noncompliance. The St. Cloud City Council on July 7 approved adjusting a city ordinance to lower the grass length limit from 10 inches to eight inches. The change is to comply with a state statute, which states the limit is eight inches. St. Cloud Health Director Matt O'Brien told city council members the city patrols grass length and issues citations after looking into resident complaints. More: St. Joseph detour, roundabout construction begins July 8 "How the procedure has historically gone is we would receive a complaint or identify long grass," O'Brien said. "We (then) take a tape measurer and measure the long grass to ensure that we are (above the) inches in our ordinance." If a property's grass is above the length requirement, O'Brien said property owners are given a notice with a period of time to correct it. If the owner doesn't make corrections, they would abate, meaning the city would coordinate lawn care to comply with local policies. 'What else is happening?': Parents question Sauk Rapids-Rice schools amid staff cuts "What this is doing is adding an additional tool in there where we can issue an administrative citation in addition to our ability to abate the violation, and then they get a $75 administrative fee on top of the abatement charge that we pay — it's generally a contractor we will hire, they'll bill us, we'll pay the bill along with the $75 administrative fee." With the change, the city can issue an administrative citation for the violation regardless of abatement. This would include another $100 fine in addition to the abatement fee and associated costs. Sign up for our alerts to receive the latest updates on important news. St. Cloud City Attorney Renee Courtney told the St. Cloud Times the property owner would be notified of the violation, and if it isn't corrected in the time specified in the notice, then the property owner would be fined a $100 administrative citation. If the violation continues after that, Courtney said the city may move forward with abatement. The property owner would then pay another $75 administrative fee for abatement alongside the costs to abate, such as the contractor's bill. "A property owner may have to pay all three if the violation continues and the property owner does not come into compliance," Courtney wrote in an email. Note to readers: If you appreciate the work we do here at The St. Cloud Times, please consider subscribing yourself or giving the gift of a subscription to someone you know. Corey Schmidt covers politics and courts for the St. Cloud Times. He can be reached at cschmidt@ This article originally appeared on St. Cloud Times: New St. Cloud lawn rules: What to know about fees, fines, grass length
