Take back our town

Short-term rentals are the root cause of Ketchum's housing crisis

Our GoalS

Reduce the number of non-owner occupied short-term rentals (STRs)

Raise taxes on non-owner occupied STRs

Institute a limit like Sandpoint Idaho on non-owner occupied STRs

SIGN OUR PETITION

over 1000 units are actively rented in Ketchum and Sun Valley on Airbnb and VRBO according to AirDNA
434 of these units are rented year-round
434 units are removed from the long-term rental market and raise prices on other long-term rentals
City of Ketchum believes there are actually 900 units in Ketchum alone

Map of active short-term rentals in Ketchum, October 2021 from AirDNA

From 2000 to 2018:
- Total number of housing units increased from 2900 to 3600
- Renter occupied units decreased from 703 units to 428
- Owner occupied units decreased from 879 units to 785

Sun Valley Economic Development: Ketchum profile

Short-term rentals have increased rents and housing prices according to studies in Ketchum
Other cities have seen similar effects (1, 2, 3),
Cities like Sandpoint, Idaho have fought back:
- Limits on the number of STRs, 35 allowed in city residential zones
- Different rules when hosts are primary residents of the unit

Zillow home value index for Ketchum. October 2021

Ketchum taxes STRs at only 4%. This is lower than Sandpoint and McCall and equal to Hailey
The median return on STRs is $3,500 a month according to AirDNA

Note: Depicts taxes collected by the city, excluding Idaho State Sales Tax of 6% and 2% percent lodging tax.

City of Ketchum was unable to answer:
- How many STR businesses are registered with the City?
- How many units do these businesses have?
- How much tax revenue does the City collect from STRs?
Ketchum has the authority to get these answers, but they need to start by asking the questions