Short-Term Rental Licensing
Please note: In 2023, Myerstown Borough Council enacted an ordinance requiring all Short-Term Rental Units in the Borough to be licensed annually, and inspected in accordance with the requirements of the ordinance.
SHORT-TERM RENTAL DEFINITION - Any dwelling unit within a residential or mixed-use structure which is rented or leased for overnight lodging to transient guests for a period of not less than one day nor more than 30 consecutive calendar days. Short-term rentals shall include vacation homes but shall not include bed-and-breakfast inns, boarding or rooming houses, or hotels/motels as defined it the Zoning Ordinance of the Borough of Myerstown.
BED-AND-BREAKFAST INN DEFINITION - A dwelling and/or its accessory structure which includes the rental of overnight sleeping accommodations and bathroom access for temporary overnight guests, and that meets the maximum number of overnight guests specified in Section 27-602 for this use, and which does not provide any cooking facilities for actual use by guests, and which only provides meals to overnight guests, employees and residents of the dwelling. Overnight stays shall be restricted to transient visitors to the area, employees and their family. NOTE: Bed-and-Breakfast Inns are NOT subject to the requirements of the Short-Term Rental Ordinance and are not required to get a Short-Term Rental License. Bed-and-Breakfast Inns must still obtain a Zoning Permit to operate.
REQUIREMENTS TO OPERATE A SHORT-TERM RENTAL UNIT:
1) Obtain a Zoning Permit
2) Obtain a Short-Term Rental Unit License
3) Pass any and all inspections
ZONING PERMIT - To obtain a Zoning Permit, an application form must be completed and submitted to the Borough Office, along with applicable fees. This application can be found at the Borough's Forms & Applications page (link below).
SHORT-TERM RENTAL LICENSE - Likewise, to obtain a Short-Term Rental License, an application form must be completed and submitted to the Borough Office, along with applicable fees. The application can also be found at the Borough's Forms & Applications page (link below).
Myerstown Borough Forms & Applications
INSPECTIONS - Short-Term Rental Units in the Borough of Myerstown will be subject to inspections to ensure that each unit is safe and sanitary, and meets the minimum health and safety standards required by applicable property maintenance, building, and zoning codes. Each residential rental unit will be inspected upon initial application, and periodically afterward ensure it is in compliance with the Borough’s property maintenance, building, and zoning codes.
REQUIREMENTS TO PASS INSPECTION:
1) Posted Notice
2) Required Equipment
3) Rules and Standards
4) Additional Requirements
5) Inspections
POSTED NOTICE
The short-term rental unit must have a clearly visible and legible NOTICE posted in the unit either ON or ADJACENT TO the front door containing the following information:
- The name of the property owner of the unit or the managing agency, agent, property manager, or local contact authorized in writing to accept service for the owner of the unit and a telephone number at which that party can be reached on a twenty-four-hour basis.
- The E-911 address of the property.
- The maximum number of occupants permitted to stay in the short-term rental and the maximum number of day guests permitted at any one time.
- The maximum number of all vehicles allowed to be on the property and the requirement that all guest parking must be parked in the available parking areas on the property and not in or along any private, community, or public street right-of-way or on any lawn or vegetated area on the property.
- The trash pickup day and notification that trash and refuse shall not be left or stored on the exterior of the property.
- Notification that an occupant or guest may be cited and fined for creating a disturbance or for violating other provisions of the Myerstown Borough Code of Ordinances, including parking and occupancy limits.
- Notification that short-term rental occupants and guests are required to make the unit available for inspection by the Code Enforcement Officer upon request.
- Smoke detectors in each bedroom;
- Smoke detectors outside each bedroom in common hallways;
- Smoke detectors on each floor;
- GFI outlets for outlets located within six feet of water source;
- Aluminum or metal exhaust from dryer;
- Carbon monoxide detector if open flame (oil or gas) furnace, gas or wood fireplace, or wood-burning stove;
- Carbon monoxide detector if garage is attached;
- Fire extinguisher in kitchen;
- Stairs (indoor and outdoor) in good condition; and
- Swimming pools, hot tubs and spas must meet the barrier requirements as indicated in Appendix G of the 2009 International Residential Code.
- Short-Term Rental Licenses are effective for a period of one year and must be renewed annually.
- A separate Short-Term Rental License is required for each short-term rental unit.
- Maximum number of overnight guests: two (2) per bedroom. (Exceptions may be approved by Borough Council)
- Maximum number of day guests: ten (10). (Exceptions may be approved by Borough Council)
- Additional bedrooms may not be created at the property after a Short-Term Rental License is approved.
- There must be at least one off-street parking space per bedroom.
- The property owner is responsible for the conduct of the occupants and guests.
- A Short-Term Rental License may be revoked, and citations may be issued if short-term rental occupants or their guests engage in disorderly conduct or disturb the peace and quiet of any nearby neighborhood.
- Overnight parking of RVs, campers, and/or trailers is prohibited.
- Outdoor overnight sleeping and/or the use of tents is prohibited.
- A property with a short-term rental unit shall not have any outside appearance indicating a change of use from any surrounding residential uses.
- Fireworks and floating lanterns are prohibited.
- Subleasing all or a portion of the short-term rental unit is prohibited.
- Short-term rental units must comply with building code requirements for a COMMERCIAL BUILDING.
- The use shall comply with all applicable Borough Ordinances and regulations, including any and all building code requirements for a commercial building.
- Inspection and approval by Building Code Official is required before Certificate of Occupancy will be issued.
- The property cannot be divided into multiple units that are separately listed for rental after approval.
- A short-term rental unit may not be located in a structure that contains one or more other dwelling units used for non-transient living quarters.
- Existing non-bedroom spaces may not be converted into additional bedrooms. The number of bedrooms shall be limited to that which existed in the residential dwelling unit at the time of approval.
- Guests may not park more cars on site than the number of off-street parking spaces available. Off-street parking must comply with all applicable regulations set forth in Part 11 of the Zoning Ordinance, related to offstreet parking and loading.
Fee Schedule
| Short-Term Rental License Application Fee | $ 50.00 |
| Short-Term Rental License Renewal Fee | $ 25.00 |
| Inspection Fee by Borough Code Official | $ 50.00 |
| Inspection Fee (if third party inspection is required) | Actual Cost |
| Appeals Fee | $ 200.00 |