Table of Contents

active transportation

The city-county’s land development code allows flexible design standards for its Planned Transit Development (PTD) district, but uses standards for pedestrian-oriented development to determine the form (§2.7.2). The standards are largely focused on increasing density through reducing automobile facilities, i.e. lowering parking minimums, reducing automobile facilities driveways and curbcuts, and increasing pedestrian amenities along the front façade of the lot. 

Form-Based ZOning

This city-county’s zoning code include mapped mandatory form-based zoning districts. It includes eleven form districts all with different permissible land uses, form standards, building frontage types, façade design standards, parking standards, and landscaping standards (§5.1.3 et seq.). 

Outdoor Lighting

The city-county’s land development code addresses outdoor lighting (§4.1.3). The code’s purpose statement addresses the reduction of light trespass and glare and cites related goals and objectives from the comprehensive plan.

The code offers definitions and provides standards that address the control of glare from luminaires in different zoning districts. It provides asecial regulations for freestanding business signs, canopy lighting, recreational facilities, pedestrian areas, temporary lighting, and architectural lighting. It provides specific provisions for light trespass, including a complaint inspection and enforcement methodology.

Short-Term Residential Rentals

The city-county land development code addresses short-term residential rentals.

The code defines short term rental and short term rental host (§1.2.2). Short term rentals in the host’s primary residence are permitted subject to standards in all residential and commercial districts, as well as 2 industrial districts; short term rentals in a non-primary residence is permitted subject to standards in all apartment/office and commercial districts as well as 2 industrial districts, but require a conditional use permit in all single-family and multi-family residential districts (Appendix 2A, Land Use Table).

Short term rentals are also permitted subject to special standards in Planned Village Development districts (Table 2.7.1) and Transit districts (§2.7.2.E.2.a), and are permitted with a conditional use permit in Traditional Neighborhood Zoning districts (§2.7.4.B.2.e).

The code provides requirements for the granting of a conditional use permit for short term rentals when required, including occupancy limits, signage, parking, and other issues. The unit must be a single-family or duplex residence or a condo unit; approvals may be revoked after two substantiated complaints (§4.2.63). Similar standards are provided for administrative approval of short term rentals when permitted, though eligible units are limited to single-family or duplex residences unless in a commercial district or within a certain distance of public transit, public parks, or historic districts (§4.3.23).

The fee for conditional use approvals for short term rentals is $225 plus $1 per notice (Appendix 11B, Fee Schedule).

In addition, the metro code’s Business title includes a section on short-term rentals that provides definitions and establishes requirements for annual registration and payment of transient occupancy taxes, as well as lists basic operational standards (§115.515–521).