Short-Term Rental Bill Town Hall

COLUMBUS—State Senator Theresa Gavarone (R-Bowling Green) and State Senator Andrew Brenner (R-Delaware) will host a town hall, alongside representatives from Airbnb, and local government officials from Erie and Ottawa Counties on Thursday, November 6th, to discuss Senate Bill 104, legislation which would limit the regulations municipalities may place on short-term rentals.

“Short term rentals have existed in Ottawa County for over a century, to remove them would be taking away the rights of homeowners,” said Senator Brenner.

Senator Gavarone suggested the town hall as an opportunity to hear both sides of the issue, and to gauge how her constituents feel about the bill. “Short term rentals present both opportunities and challenges to the Shores and Islands region in the 2nd Senate District. I am interested to hear from local stakeholders and constituents directly on how potential changes to the law impact the region.”

If passed, Senate Bill 104 would limit the purposes for which townships, counties, and municipal corporations may regulate short-term rental properties, including prohibiting the ban of short-term rentals, using zoning requirements to prohibit or limit short-term rental properties in areas that are zoned to allow for residential use, and requiring the owner of a short-term rental property to occupy the property.

Additionally, the bill would require subdivisions to subject short-term rental stays to the subdivision’s lodging tax, require a collection and remittance of the tax by the operator of the short-term rental platform, and require the Superintendent of the Division of Real Estate and Professional Licensing to issue licenses to licensed real estate brokers and salespersons in electronic format. 

Senator Brenner will lead a panel consisting of a representative from Airbnb, Catawba Island Township Trustee Diane Belden, Huron City Councilman Joel Hagy, and Sandusky City Commissioner Jeff Krabill. After a short introduction of the bill by each of the panelists, there will be a period of time to ask questions. The topic is limited to the discussion of Senate Bill 104.

Date:          Thursday, November 6, 2025
Time:         6p.m.-8p.m. (doors open at 5:45pm)
Location:  Ottawa County Fairgrounds – Damschroder Hall, 7870 W. State Route 163, Oak Harbor, OH 43449

For those unfamiliar with SB 104, below is the language being proposed, along with a link of where this bill is in the process. There is now a Sub Bill being proposed with some changes to what was initially introduced. This document is also attached.

SB 104 as Introduced: New language highlighted in yellow.           
Sub Bill 104 as Modified: Original language in yellow, modified language in green.
Link to State Legislature Process:      https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/136/sb104

There is also a “sister bill” that has been introduced in the State the House of Representatives with similar language. This information can be found at the following link: https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/136/hb109