Short-term rentals in residential areas that provide alternatives to hotels for travelers are drawing the attention of cities across the nation.
New Orleans has new guidelines for short-term rentals in residential areas that limit permits to one in a square block, to be determined by lottery starting in August.
New Orleans isn’t alone in establishing guidelines. Cities from Dallas to Juneau, Alaska are considering regulating short-term rentals such as Airbnb or Vacation Rentals by Owners (VRBO).
In the city of Jackson, there is no ordinance that regulates short-term rentals.
“We are looking at how to regulate them via zoning rather than within the rental registration program,” said Chloe Dotson, director of planning and development for the city of Jackson.
Ashby Foote, who represents Ward 1 on the Jackson City Council, met in 2021 with residents concerned about an Airbnb located along Lakeside Drive.
Foote said afterward that the meeting consisted of good, healthy discussion with the condo owners who were present, but there was no easy solution to the problem. He advised the condo owners to formalize a formal homeowner’s association instead of the informal agreement the owners had.
Foote, who had hoped for the city to develop an ordinance that would address short-term rentals, said he understands how residents do not want to have a short-rental that causes parking problems, noise and other issues in their neighborhoods.
He said the city, unfortunately, has had more pressing issues such as water and sewer problems to focus on than short-term rentals.
Ridgeland’s Mayor Gene McGee said in 2021 he will never consider allowing VRBO, or the likes of it, in Ridgeland. He believes having it in the city would hurt tourism in Ridgeland.
“[Short-term rentals] don’t pay tourism tax which hurts our tourism commission who uses funds to promote tourism,” McGee said. “We believe short term rental does not provide a positive image for the city nor does it help our economy grow.”
Without these short-term rentals as an option, McGee said it helps fill up their hotels, which is important to the industry.
Ridgeland’s zoning ordinance does not allow for a dwelling unit to be rented for less than 30 days. Any dwelling unit rented for more than 30 days and less than 90 days must be issued a license by the mayor and board of aldermen.
“No one has ever requested this license, so nothing in Ridgeland should be rented for less than 90 days,” said Alan Hart, director of public works.
The city of Madison does not allow for the short-term rentals either.
Madison’s Director of Community Development Kianca Stringfellow said VRBO, Airbnb and other short-term rentals are not listed in its zoning ordinances as an allowable use. The city adopted the Rental Inspection and Property Licensing Act as a response to the increased amount of rental properties not being maintained by absentee and out of state owners.
“The city desires to preserve and protect single-family residential communities,” Stringfellow said. “To lease a residential property, the landlord must obtain a certificate of compliance which is valid for one year or until the present lease is terminated, whichever occurs first. If the lease is terminated prior to the expiration of one year, and the landlord intends to lease to a different tenant, the landlord must obtain a new inspection and certificate of compliance prior to renting the property.”
