Coalition to Address Short-Term Rentals (CASTR) Invites Interested Neighborhoods and Individuals to Join in Forum

Houses along a suburban street

The Old Southside neighborhood's Short Term Rental (STR) efforts have formalized and been named the "Coalition to Address Short-Term Rentals (CASTR).” All organizations, neighborhood associations and individuals are welcome to join. The CASTR link is ready for distribution www.ShortTermRentalReport.com and provides a form to report nuisance properties. CASTR held a May 2023 forum at which IMPD Captain Christopher Boomershine (head of IMPD Nuisance Abatement) introduced attendees to two of his team’s analysts responsible for building a database of issues with short-term rentals.

If you have issues not represented in the list below, please submit them to [email protected]. HUNI encourages you to keep this link handy.

Below is the list of priorities gathered from previous meetings with neighbors:

  1. Registration with City
  2. Annual renewal fee
  3. Business permit from State of Indiana
  4. Principal renter must be 21 years of age
  5. Owner’s name and contact information must be posted inside the residence and with contiguous neighbors
  6. IMPD must have immediate access to the owner’s contact information
  7. Inspections required – at the owner’s expense
  8. New permits not allowed in residential areas
  9. STR permits are not transferable when a property sells
  10. Occupancy rate established of how many people can be in the residence
  11. No large parties
  12. No food trucks
  13. Two-night minimum stay
  14. No recreational vehicles, buses, or trailers are allowed
  15. Must obey all local ordinances including noise and trash ordinances

Presently, there are zero restrictions on STRs currently, Councilors Jones and Adamson drafted an ordinance that they introduced at the June 5th Council meeting; the ordinance has been assigned to committee, and hearings are the next big opportunity for public input. STR owners have also organized, forming the Short Term Rental Alliance. Jim Borthwick, President, was on the panel to express support for the ordinance efforts. Responsible STR owners are also concerned about the bad apples.

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