• Home
  • Issues
  • About
  • Happenings
  • News
  • Downloads
  • Links
  • Contact Pat
  • Update
  • More
    • Home
    • Issues
    • About
    • Happenings
    • News
    • Downloads
    • Links
    • Contact Pat
    • Update
  • Home
  • Issues
  • About
  • Happenings
  • News
  • Downloads
  • Links
  • Contact Pat
  • Update

Ask Mayor Taylor

Ask Mayor TaylorAsk Mayor TaylorAsk Mayor Taylor

Ask Mayor Taylor

Ask Mayor TaylorAsk Mayor TaylorAsk Mayor Taylor

The Mayor stays on duty!

This site is an unofficial site provided by Mayor Pat Taylor and is devoted to keeping the residents of Highlands, North Carolina informed on the actions, plans and issues Mayor Pat is working. This website is not associated with the Office of the Mayor of Highlands or the office.

Ask Mayor Pat - Update 30 January 2023

Click Image for Video

Short-Term Rental Compliance

Subject: Short-Term Rental Compliance

January 24, 2023


The Town’s Planning & Development Director is implementing the provisions of the newly adopted Short-Term Rental Ordinance. The Town Board approved the ordinance on September 15, 2022. Since then, several questions have arisen about the requirements and enforcement of the new regulation.


The ordinance states that homes in the R-1 and R-2 residential zones, operating as short-term rentals on or before September 15, 2022, may continue at this time. However, R-1 and R-2 zoned properties that were not operating as short-term rentals before September 15, 2022, cannot rent for a period of less than 30 consecutive days. Short-term rentals are permitted in the R-3 residential zoning district and all business zones.


Our staff relies on a software program called Granicus to track short-term rentals. The software identifies short-term rentals operating through VRBO, Airbnb, and other platforms. Our staff is constantly monitoring Granicus. If the program identifies an STR that wasn’t operating before September 15, 2022, our Planning & Development Director sends a Notice of Violation to the property owner. Upon receiving the violation, the owner MUST contact the Planning Director and submit proof that their home was operating as an STR prior to the adoption of the ordinance. If the property owner cannot submit the required proof, a violation is determined, and a municipal citation is issued.


The new ordinance does not call for any form of registration or permit. The Granicus software is only used to track rental activity. According to Granicus, there are between 250 and 270 active short-term rentals within the town limits. Of course, this number fluctuates depending on the time of year. By comparison, the 2022 Community Plan estimates 2,223 housing units within the town’s corporate limits.


The STR ordinance has additional compliance requirements for parking, number of bedrooms, noise, trash disposal, etc. These basic requirements apply to all residential properties. Those requirements are also being enforced.


Unfortunately, several rumors and misunderstandings about the ordinance and its enforcement are circulating on social media. I will address two.


First, as mentioned above, no registration or permit is required by the new ordinance. With the help of Granicus, the Planning Department is confident that they’re able to track a high percentage of STRs. Also, any rental agreement for 30 days or longer does not fall under the short-term rental category; and, therefore, isn’t subject to its restrictions.


Second, when the Planning Department receives an STR complaint, our Planning Director responds. First, the software program is reviewed to determine if the property has operated as an STR before September 15, 2022. If the program confirms proof of operation, no further action is necessary, and the property is determined to be a lawful nonconformity.


If compliance cannot be verified through the software, a Notice of Violation is sent to the property owner. At that point, the property owner, operator, or manager MUST provide any requested documentation to the Planning Director. Rental Agreements, Occupancy Tax Records, and Proof of Financial Statements are some of the required documents. Upon receiving clear and authentic records, the Planning Director can determine whether the owner was operating a short-term rental before September 15, 2022. The Planning Office will not accept a claim without supporting documents. Failure to provide the requested documents will result in a disqualification as a short-term rental unit. Any ruling by our Planning Director can be appealed to the Town of Highlands Zoning Board of Adjustment.


I want to emphasize that the Town of Highlands has procedures in place to guide enforcement decisions. As in all zoning cases, our staff determines whether the elements of the ordinance have been met as a means to determine compliance status.  


If you have any questions or concerns, please contact our Planning Department at (828) 526-2118.



MAYOR PAT

See All My 57 Articles

See and Download

Mayor Pat's Video Update

Site Content

What the mayor is doing

Challenges facing Highlands

Challenges facing Highlands

Check this section out for the current projects Mayor Pat is working and what's new in the town.

Challenges facing Highlands

Challenges facing Highlands

Challenges facing Highlands

An up to date accounting of the latest challenges: Mayor Pat reports of the issues at hand UPDATE July

Ask the mayor

Challenges facing Highlands

Mayor Pat's News releases

Reach out to Mayor Pat with an email to discuss an issue or ask a question. The email and response can be just for you or the public- your choice.

Mayor Pat's News releases

Your elected representatives

Mayor Pat's News releases

See a history of all Mayor Pat's commentray as reported in our local newspapers.

LINKS to important sites

Your elected representatives

Your elected representatives

Here are some links to websites that can provide additional information on the issues of the day. 

Your elected representatives

Your elected representatives

Your elected representatives

You can reach out to county officials and north carolina elected officials.


The Mayor's Platform

WE MUST ALWAYS BALANCE THE NEED FOR PROGRESS WITH THE NECESSITY TO PRESERVE WHAT IS SO SPECIAL AND ESSENTIALLY HIGHLANDS .

We continue to improve the living conditions, protect the environment and increase business opportunities for our great town.  Using the new Highlands Community Plan as a guide, here are some of our top priorities in the coming years 

A Side Note

I am also a Potter

Beyond being the Mayor of Highlands I am also a husband, father, grandfather and a POTTER.  Check out my other career as an artist and potter.

See my Business

My Pottery

Subscribe

Sign up to hear from us about specials, sales, and events.

Produced By Heritage Productions

Video and Production Company

Video Production

Drone Video -FAA Certified

Legacy Productions

Learn more
  • Home
  • Reserved Funds
  • Parking
  • Water System
  • Fiber
  • Bear Wise Program
  • Housing
  • Recreation
  • Mirror Lake

Paid for by Mayor Pat Taylor

Copyright © 2021 PatTaylor - All Rights Reserved.

This website uses cookies.

We use cookies to analyze website traffic and optimize your website experience. By accepting our use of cookies, your data will be aggregated with all other user data.

Accept