How is primary residence enforced?
By people observing their neighbors are never there. In small communities everyone knows everyone, and it's in our own interest having a vibrant community, not lots of empty housing only being used during high season.
But mainly it's checked by seeing if any person has their primary residence registered at each address zoned to housing. Or by filling in a form saying it's rented out to someone living their temporarily, like seasonal workers, students at the ski academy etc.
But people do try to skimp around it by living there on paper while actually living somewhere else. But than at least part of their taxes paid goes to our county. County can force them to sell, though.
Re:How to Save a Ski Town
by myshoesareblue on Monday November 29, 2021 @03:40AM
(#29377609)
they are taxed differently. you would not get the upper hand trying to live primarily in something classified in a secondary/fun/vacation home.
there's also the matter of your person registry information being wrong all the time (since it has to be tied to something zoned as a primary residence). would be death by a thousand cuts since so many services and programs refer to this registry to automate things.
Many counties are actually fine with people living full time in their cabins. It's the opposite that's problematic, using normal housing as cabins. But as you say, it can be an expensive and troublesome way to live, compared to buying something zoned properly.
Yes, it's an issue. But it's often far too easy to blame the new people or the tourists. Hating them while happily taking their money or needing them to fill work. I mean, without being a tourist hotspot, the town I'm from would have died. Towns close by without the same skiing opportunities struggle with all young people moving to study and never returning. So the population is ending up being very old and declining.
With that said, there are of course issues. But I feel our zoning laws have worked great. An area is either for cabins or primary residents. Those for primary resident, must have someone living there. The cabins don't. Thus there are two markets, one for those wanting the convenience of their own place to stay when visiting, and one for those wanting to live their full time. A house for full time is also in a different areas than the cabins, so you won't have lots of empty hosues as your neighbors.
This is reflected in the prices. A cabin is probably 2x-3x as expensive as a similar house. But that helps on not pricing the locals out. Of course, someone externally could buy a house as an investment and rent it out longterm, thus pushing the price higher. But at least that doesn't take away some housing for people living there.