Case Study
How Sedona, AZ was Able to Find a Solution in the Face of State Preemption Laws
Overview
In August 2016, a law was passed in the State of Arizona, going into effect in January 2017, overruling all existing city ordinances, to bar local regulations of short-term rentals (STRs). The Arizona State Legislature subsequently passed House Bill 2672 in 2019, enabling local jurisdictions to begin collecting emergency contact information from STR operators.
Sedona, AZ
Justin Clifton
City Manager
Situation
As a popular tourist destination with more than 1,000 STRs in the area, Sedona sought to get a handle on local complaints, begin collecting emergency contact information from operators, and start the process of gathering data to determine the impacts on the community—all while adhering to state laws around STR regulations.
After signing with GovOS (formerly LODGINGRevs), City Manager Justin Clifton stated to Red Rock News: “The first thing is that we actually know how many vacation rental units are listed in Sedona and the surrounding area. With this information we can track trends and see if it’s a market that is expanding. But with LODGINGRevs we also have a streamlined system for registering emergency contact information and taking complaints. This should not only provide better response to short-term rental issues for residents but also gives us better and more complete information we can use to lobby the legislature and the governor for better laws and greater local control.”
Solution
In 2020, Sedona began using the GovOS Short-Term Rental Solution to collect emergency contact information for STRs and resolve STR-related complaints via a 24-hour bilingual hotline and online form for local residents. GovOS was able to tailor the STR solution to fit within the statewide constraints in Arizona, enabling Sedona to get the data they needed while remaining within their legal requirements.
Results
Since September 2020, GovOS has helped Sedona collect emergency contact information for 84% of STR properties. Through this enhanced collection of information, Sedona is able to accurately reach out to contacts regarding complaints. Whether it is a trash violation or a noise complaint, the 24/7 hotline provided by GovOS can resolve these complaints with the correct point of contact.
With the GovOS hotline, Sedona has resolved more than 260 complaints in the last nine months. An efficient outreach program like this can increase neighborhood involvement and support community preservation. Complaints can be routed to the appropriate points of contact including those that require outreach from city staff or even code enforcement.
For more information about GovOS Short-Term Rental, visit govos.com/products/short-term-rental/
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