On July 16, 2015, the City of Edgewater passed Ordinance 2015-09. This ordinance amended the Edgewater Municipal Code by adding a new Article 7 to Chapter 7 known as the “Rental Property Maintenance Code”.

The purpose and intent of this Rental Code is to provide minimum standards to safeguard life and limb, health, property, and public welfare by regulating and controlling the use, occupancy, and maintenance of all residential structures available for rent within the City of Edgewater. This Rental Code establishes minimum standards for basic equipment and facilities; for occupancy; for plumbing, heating and electrical systems; for fire safety; for exits; for pest control; and for the safe and sanitary maintenance of residential properties.

Rental Property Forms & Guidelines:

• Rental Property Registration Code
• Rental Property License Application
• Rental Property Tenant Complaint Form

• If no owner of the property has a residential address within 50 miles of the City of Edgewater, or if no officer, manager or director of the business entity that owns the property has a business address within 50 miles of the City of Edgewater, then an agent for the property who has either a residential or business address within 50 miles of the City of Edgewater must be registered with the City, along with a copy of the writing designating the agent to act as the representative of the owner on issues related to a rental dwelling and for receipt of notices and legal service of process related to a rental dwelling.
• At an owner’s request, the City will conduct an inspection of their rental dwelling(s) upon payment of a fee of fifty dollars ($50). If the result of any such inspection is a finding of full compliance, the City will issue a letter to the owner stating the date of inspection and the finding of full compliance. At the owner’s request, a copy of the letter will be placed on the City’s website for a period of 1 year from the date of its issuance. Any such letter will be removed from the City’s website in the event that the City later discovers a violation of the City’s Rental Property Maintenance Code.
• The City may inspect a rental dwelling to determine compliance after receiving a written complaint of non-compliance from the tenant.

Benefits of the Rental Inspection Program

• Increased property values.
• Improved safety for tenants, landlords & managers.
• Peace of mind that comes from spending more time on routine management and less on crises control.
• Provide documentation of the condition of rental units which help landlords keep track of tenant abuse.

Effective January 1, 2018, it shall be unlawful to operate any short term rental in the City without a license for the same issued pursuant to Article 15 of the Edgewater Municipal Code. Except as otherwise provided herein, a property occupied solely for purposes of primary residence and short term rentals shall not be required to comply with the rental property maintenance code and registration requirements of Article 13 of Chapter 6 and Article 7 of Chapter 7, respectively, of this Code. A short term rental shall not constitute a “bed and breakfast,” as defined and regulated by Chapter 16 of the Edgewater Municipal Code.

• Short Term Rental License Application
• Short Term Rental Regulation Guidelines

Effective January 1, 2018, it shall be unlawful to operate any short term rental in the City without a license for the same issued pursuant to Article 15 of the Edgewater Municipal Code. Except as otherwise provided herein, a property occupied solely for purposes of primary residence and short term rentals shall not be required to comply with the rental property maintenance code and registration requirements of Article 13 of Chapter 6 and Article 7 of Chapter 7, respectively, of this Code. A short term rental shall not constitute a “bed and breakfast,” as defined and regulated by Chapter 16 of the Edgewater Municipal Code.

1. Review the Rules & Regulations of having a Short Term Rental Property in Edgewater.
2. Review all building, housing, and health codes. Property must be in compliance.
3. Meet with City Clerk to discuss: 
   • Rules & Regulations.
   • Application needs.
4. Fully complete a Short Term Rental Application and submit it to the City Clerk. This application must be kept up to date at all times by the applicant. The application is not transferrable.
5. In addition to the application, you will need to submit:
   • The full name, address and telephone number of an authorized agent with either a residential or business address within fifty (50) miles of the City of Edgewater, along with a copy of the writing designating the agent to act, in the applicant’s absence, as the representative of the applicant on issues related to the short term rental.
   • A sworn affidavit that the applicant has followed all license requirements, that there are no private rules or covenants that prohibit the use of the licensed premises as a short term rental, and that the application is complete and contains no false, misleading or fraudulent statements.
   • The address of the proposed licensed premises and a description or illustration of the area(s) that will be used for short term rental purposes.
   • Proof of applicant’s principal residence at the licensed premises.
   • A current list of the addresses of all property located within one hundred (100) feet of the property upon which the licensed premises is situated.
6. Rental property will be inspected to ensure all codes are met.
7. Once application is approved by City Clerk and additional departments, City Clerk will notify the properties located within one hundred (100) feet of the property. If there are no objections, a Short Term Rental License will be issued. Please note, the approval process can take up to four (4) weeks.

Once a property has obtained a license for a short term rental, the owner must:

1. Provide a yearly signed and notarized affidavit, attesting to the duration and frequency of the prior year’s short term rental history, as well as confirmation of payment of all applicable sales and lodging taxes.
   • There may be no more than 10 rental days per month, or more than 60 days per calendar year.
2. Post a notice with inside the premises with

   (1) Licensee’s contact information;

   (2) Emergency contact information if the licensee cannot be reached;

   (3) City of Edgewater’s noise restrictions;

   (4) Local trash and recycling schedule;

   (5) Parking restrictions;

   (6) Water restrictions;

   (7) Evacuation directions in the event of fire or emergency;

   (8) Location of the fire extinguisher; and

   (9) City contact information for purposes of complaints concerning the licensed premises.

3. Provide the total number and type of off-street parking.