Lake County keeps short-term rental prohibition in place
Short-term rentals in residential areas in unincorporated Lake County will remain prohibited for the foreseeable future.
However, county officials acknowledge the demand won't wane and plan to revisit the matter at some point, perhaps early next year, to determine whether the rule should be relaxed and how to manage what has become a widespread but sometimes disruptive practice.
The topic surfaced last week in response to a request to re-examine the county's long-standing prohibition on short-term rentals in residential areas, according to Eric Waggoner, Lake County director of planning, building and development.
Waggoner presented current county regulations, pros and cons of short-term rentals and other observations and considerations to the county board's public works, planning and transportation committee.
Members favored keeping the prohibition in place but recognized short-term rentals are widespread and directed Waggoner to continue researching the matter.
"We should look at the more persistent, long-term issues," said committee member Ann Maine of Lincolnshire. "I'd like to see if we can come up with a compromise."
Committee vice chairwoman Linda Pedersen said she has heard noise complaints regarding short-term rentals in her district. She represents the Antioch area, which has the most unincorporated property of any of the 21 county board districts.
"I've had some issues in my district. Quite a few issues," Pedersen said. "I'm not in favor of this because I don't think it's fair to the surrounding residents who live there full time," she added.
Bed-and-breakfasts, in which the owner/manager lives on site, are allowed in unincorporated residential areas but short-term rentals of less than 30 days are not. Hotels and motels are allowed in nonresidential areas.
In Lake County, the top points of interest for short-term rentals are: Naval Station Great Lakes; Chain 'O Lakes; Illinois Beach State Park; College of Lake County; and, Six Flags Great America, water parks and Gurnee Mills in Gurnee.
Benefits of short-term rentals are income to owners, potential new tax revenues and potential to spread tourism outside of concentrated areas, Waggoner said.
The downside is they can potentially diminish the residential character of a neighborhood, impact local hotels or lead to other uses such as renting backyard pools, for example.
Waggoner said noise, trash, parking and other issues associated with short-term rentals that result in friction between guests and long-term residents that are difficult to monitor and regulate. The potential transmission of COVID-19 and potential violence at large parties are other concerns, he added.
Regulations regarding short-term rentals in the Chicago area and elsewhere range from outright prohibition to allowing by right with registration, allowing as a special use through a zoning process or treated as a nuisance, Waggoner told committee members.
He said there said several ways to tighten the operation of short-term rentals, if need be, but cautioned there would be "significant challenges" for staffing needed to adequately enforce any new directives.