Erie City Council is planning to make changes to the city's rental registration program.

On Wednesday, Erie City Council approved the first reading of a short-term rental ordinance.

Under the proposal, short-term rental owners will have to pay an annual $80.00 registration fee and have their properties inspected twice a year.

They will also be required to have $500,000 in liability, hazard, and casualty insurance.

Landlords who fail to register, will face a monthly fine of $1,000.00.

According to Erie City Council President Chuck Nelson, the new requirements are meant to protect both property owners and renters.

"This was absolutely necessary to go hand-in-hand with our update on zoning," said Nelson. "There's a lot of concerns with what this is going to do to neighborhoods, so we need to make sure that in the allowance of this zoning, that we are also regulating it strong to protect our communities."

The ordinance is up for final passage at Erie City Council's next meeting in two weeks.