Short-Term Rentals

Eatonton Messenger/File Photo

STR permit denial highlights end-of-year BOC meeting

Rufus Adair

Thursday, December 28, 2023

An appeal of a denied short-term rental (STR) permit application caused the biggest stir at last week’s mid-month meeting of the Putnam County Board of Commissioners.

Eatonton Messenger/File Photo

BOC approves STR contested permits

Rufus Adair

Wednesday, October 25, 2023

Two contested short-term rental (STR) permits in the R-1R zone on Lake Oconee and rezoning requests for two sizeable developments around Harmony Crossing dominated the mid-month meeting of the Putnam County Board of Commissioners last week.

A full house faced Putnam County District 3 commissioner candidates last Thursday at Lake Oconee Lutheran Church Community Center, where former candidate Charles Trumbo (at podium) served as emcee for the event.

STRs dominate Putnam County candidate forum

Story And Photos By Ian Tocher

Thursday, October 19, 2023

The Putnam County Republican Party presented a candidate forum on Oct. 12 at Lake Oconee Lutheran Church Community Center on Greensboro Road.

Eatonton Messenger/File Photo

STRs by the numbers

Rufus Adair

Thursday, September 21, 2023

On the eve of the Putnam County Board of Commissioners' Sept. 1 vote on a new short-term rental (STR) ordinance, Commission Clerk Lynn Butterworth compiled a four-part analysis of the 260 existing STR permits. One of Butterworth’s tasks is to administer the STR application process.

Eatonton Messenger/File Photo

STR ordinance more reasonable than some have suggested

Rufus Adair

Thursday, September 21, 2023

While Putnam County’s new short-term rental (STR) ordinance has its complications and compromises, a closer look at data and details may make it seem a lot more family-friendly than some earlier criticisms suggested.

Eatonton Messenger/Graphic

Commissioners consider budget, STR concerns

Rufus Adair

Wednesday, August 9, 2023

With both a short-term rental (STR) ordinance and a tax-hiking budget scheduled to be settled in September, citizens gave Putnam County commissioners an earful at last week’s mid-month commission meeting.

Eatonton Messenger/Graphic

STRs, de-annexation again dominate BOC meeting

Rufus Adair

Thursday, July 27, 2023

On Tuesday last week, the Putnam County Board of Commissioners (BOC) postponed to September the schedule for a new short-term rentals ordinance, and with little comment approved forwarding to Eatonton City Council a new batch of de-annexation requests.

Eatonton Messenger/Graphic

STR ordinance getting closer

Rufus Adair

Thursday, July 20, 2023

Even with some changes still possible, Putnam County’s much-wrangled short-term rentals (STR) ordinance could become finalized in August.

Eatonton Messenger/Graphic

Commissioners discuss STR law, hospital board, road repaving

Rufus Adair

Wednesday, June 28, 2023

A “week at the beach” may have long been a way of life in coastal communities, but the downside to some party weekends at Putnam’s lakefront properties has apparently risen rather quickly. “Too many people, too much noise, too many cars, up too late,” is the way one homeowner put it.

Eatonton Messenger/Graphic

BOC works to shape its STR ordinance

Rufus Adair

Wednesday, June 7, 2023

In a two-hour work session last Friday, the Putnam County Board of Commissioners and County Attorney Adam Nelson winnowed down some of the options for a new short-term rentals ordinance, although final approval, and even a draft ordinance, are still off in the future.

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