Rosemont bans short-term rentals

After receiving inquiries about making village homes available for short-term rentals, Rosemont officials on Wednesday enacted new rules forbidding such uses.

The ban, approved unanimously by the village board, applies to all residences throughout the 2.5-square-mile municipality, including single-family homes and apartments within the Scott Street subdivision gated community and north of Allstate Arena.

Rosemont joins neighboring Park Ridge in prohibiting short-term rentals, which have increased across the marketplace with websites such as Airbnb. Lake Barrington banned rentals of less than three months after an altercation at a home rented for a party led to a shooting in nearby Barrington.

Other towns have approved various regulations, including licensing fees. Des Plaines officials last year discussed possible licensing and inspection requirements but never took formal action.

Rosemont officials say they got calls from those who wanted to know if the village had any regulations on short-term rentals. One prospective investor expressed interest in buying properties for the sole purpose of renting them out.

That led the village's attorneys to draft an ordinance to amend zoning regulations. The new rules formally prohibit any single-family dwelling, multiple dwelling or group or row house to be rented for less than 28 days.

"We have plenty of hotels in Rosemont," said Village Attorney John Donahue.