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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2013 - 2014
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | December 4, 2013 12:10 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Tina M. Davis |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Legislation Allowing Municipalities to More Broadly Define Hotels in Their Zoning Ordinances |
| In the near future, I plan on introducing legislation that would allow municipalities to more broadly define hotels in their zoning ordinances. Many of our communities are facing issues relating to fly by night rental units popping up with owners who are creating serious safety concerns by cramming many renters into a residential property with no accountability. This creates fire hazards, traffic concerns, and health issues for the tenants involved. Many times these renters have an existing criminal record or a poor credit history and are afraid to speak up if they are living in a situation that contains safety violations. This legislation attempts to give municipalities a tool to provide better record keeping, accountability, and safety to keep these tenants and our neighborhoods out of harms way. As you may know, the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code (Act 247 of 1968) gives municipalities the ability to plan for and control land use within their boundaries. One of the tools used to manage this growth is the adoption and enforcement of zoning ordinances, which provide for permitted land uses throughout the municipality. This bill does not mandate a zoning change but simply gives the municipalities another zoning option. The legislation that I will be introducing would amend the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code to authorize municipalities to adopt a zoning ordinance that classifies as a hotel any residential building whose owner receives compensation, without a lease, for the right of three or more individuals to reside in said building for any period of more than seven consecutive days. An exception to this provision would exempt a residential building whose owner receives remuneration for a stay of any length of time by any individuals, without signing a lease, that are related to the building owner by blood, marriage, adoption, or guardianship. |
Introduced as HB1761