ADAMS TWP — Township supervisors approved a new ordinance that will seek to regulate short-term rental accommodations during a meeting Monday, Feb. 10.

The Transient Dwelling Ordinance contains of a series of health and safety, and licensing requirements for any resident seeking to operate an Airbnb, VRBO or similar short-term stay unit.

During a public hearing, township solicitor Michael Gallagher explained that residents will be required to have liability insurance along with paying the Butler County hotel tax.

The ordinance also puts a cap on maximum occupancy and bans tents and lanterns on the premises.

Gallagher noted that residents will need to provide “adequate trash storage and collection” and the units “have to be equipped with smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.”

There also will be license fees since inspections will be mandatory for anyone who owns that type of unit.

Monday’s vote on the matter simply created the ordinance. Any future actions involving necessary regulations and oversight will need to be drafted before the ordinance can be amended.

While there were no specific issues related to units that serve as Airbnbs or VRBOs, supervisors noted that they wanted an ordinance on record for future reference.

“I don’t think there were any specific incidents, but I think there was some minimal concern by some residents,” Ronald Shemela, vice chariman, said. “We had not addressed it as a township, and so this is a result of that. It’s just kind of being proactive.”