Santa Fe County short-term rental ordinance

On December 15, TVCA members David Dougherty and Margo Cutler spent just over an hour in a meeting with Justin Greene and his constituent liaison Ambra Baca, Nate Crail, Penny Ellis Green, Erle Wright the County’s GPS manager and two other county staff members. Susan Rule, the president of the Vista Redondo HOA and a rental owner and a county staff member at home with Covid participated via the Web Ex platform.

Staff handed out a map and an eight page spreadsheet Labeled Exhibit B-Short Term Rental Units by Selected Census Designated Places and Community Planning Areas.

Basically this included a lot of info about the communities within five miles of the city limits. At the last BCC meeting Commissioner Hank Hughes proposed that there be a 5% cap set for the number of short term rentals in these close in communities.

Commissioner Greene disclosed again that he is an owner of short term rentals and has a different viewpoint.

The proposed new county short term rental ordinance is set to be heard and approved or disapproved on Tuesday January 9th at the county Courthouse at 102 Grant sometime after 5:00 PM.

Research done by the county staff and a contractor who verifies the number of short term rentals offered on sites like Air BnB and VRBO provided information. According to their numbers, Tesuque currently has 5.6% of its housing stock used as Short Term rentals. This includes about 1.3% that do not have the required short term rental permits, but does not include the condos that were built to be rented and are adjacent to Rancho Encantado and Bishop’s Lodge.

Commissioner Greene is anxious to have us try to spread the word in Tesuque about the upcoming possible STR limitation and BCC hearing date.

He would like anyone with concerns about a cap to contact him with their specific concern at jsgreene@santafecountynm.gov.