When deciding whether to let Cohost manage your short-term rental, it is important for you to understand the laws in your city. As a short-term rental property management company we do not provide legal advice, but we want to give you some useful links that may help you better understand laws and regulations in Stone County. This list is not exhaustive, but it should give you a good start in understanding your local laws. To find out relevant information, it is always good practice to check with your county or city government website. You can find out short-term rental information here.
Taken from the Stone County Health Code Vacation Rental Ordinance.
SECTION 4.4 APPLICATION FOR VACATION HOME RENTAL PERMIT
An application for a permit must be filed with the Stone County Health Department
before use of the property as a vacation rental. Permit applications for properties
presently used as vacation rental must be filed within 90 days of the effective date of this
ordinance upon forms provided by the Stone County Health Department and must contain
the following information:
4.4.1 The name, address, and telephone number of the owner of the vacation rental for
which the permit is issued.
4.4.2 The name, address, and telephone number of the managing agency, agent or local
contact person for the owner of the vacation rental.
4.4.3 A diagram or photograph of the premises showing and indicating the number and
location of designated on-site parking spaces and the maximum number of vehicles
allowed for overnight occupants.
4.4.4 Evidence of a valid transient occupancy tax remittance form issued by the county
for the vacation rental.
4.4.5 Acknowledgment that the owner, agent, and local contact person have read all
regulations pertaining to the operation of a vacation rental.
4.4.6 Onsite wastewater treatment system inspection report performed by a licensed
onsite system inspector. If the onsite wastewater treatment system is found to be
insufficient, the initial onsite wastewater treatment system repair permit fee will be waived.
SECTION 4.6. PERMIT COMPLIANCE PROCEDURES
Prior to approval of an application for permit, the regulatory authority shall inspect the
proposed vacation rental to determine compliance with the requirements of this
ordinance.
4.6.1 The owner must by written agreement, limit overnight occupancy of the vacation
rental to the specific number of occupants designated in the permit, with the number of
overnight occupants not to exceed 2 persons per bedroom plus 4 additional persons per
residence.
4.6.2 The owner shall by written agreement, limit the number of vehicles of overnight
occupants to the number designated in the permit; with the number of vehicles of
overnight occupants not to exceed the number of designated on-site parking spaces.
Parking buses with a seating capacity greater than half of the occupancy of the number of
occupants designated on the permit, on-site or on the street is prohibited.
4.6.3 The owner of the vacation rental shall post a copy of the permit and a copy of the
conditions set forth in this section in a conspicuous place within the vacation rental.
4.6.4 Each vacation rental shall have clearly visible and legible notice posted within the
unit on or adjacent to the front door, containing the following information:
a. The name of the managing agency, agent, property manager, local contact, or owner
of the unit, and a telephone number at which that party may be reached on a 24-hour
basis;
b. The maximum number of occupants to stay in the unit;
c. The maximum number of vehicles allowed to be parked on the property and location
of on-site parking spaces;
d. Notification that failure to conform to the parking and occupancy requirements of
the structure is a violation of this ordinance;
e. The trash pick-up day and notification that trash and refuse shall not be left or stored
on the exterior of the property except from 6:00 p.m. of the day prior to trash pick-
up to 6:00 p.m. on the day designated for trash pick-up;
f. The occupants of a vacation rental must make the notice required by this
paragraph available for inspection by the Stone County Health Department.
g. Each vacation rental shall have the 9-1-1 address posted. The numbers shall be in
arabic numerals at least 3 inches in height, and of a durable and clearly visible
material. The numbers shall be placed on, above, or at the side of the main entrance
so the number is visible from the public right-of-way. Whenever a residence entrance
is not visible from the public right-of-way, the number shall be placed along a
driveway, or property entrance. Address numbers are to be a contrasting color to the
background on which they are mounted.