Durango isn’t the only city wrestling with vacation rental regulations. Cities across the country are finding themselves in the middle of a fight between homeowners who want to make money with short-term rentals and neighbors who don’t like tourists staying next door.
Community leaders in Asheville, N.C., recently jumped into the debate that has popped up in tourist destinations nationwide, as the growth of Internet-based businesses such as Vacation Rentals by Owner, or VRBO and Airbnb make it increasingly easy to connect property owners with travelers.
The rentals technically are illegal in residential areas of this North Carolina mountain town, but the rules aren’t enforced unless someone complains, said Shannon Tuch, head of the city development services department. That’s leading to a growth in rentals, city officials say.
Property owners have asked city leaders to consider easing the rules, said Derek Allen, an attorney hired by proponents of the change.
The business is “good for property owners, but it’s also really good for the town,” said Debbie Nordeen, who had to change the way she rents out a south Asheville apartment after the city said it violated the rules. “It also keeps up the tourism spirit of the town.”
Barber Melton, vice president of the Coalition of Asheville Neighborhoods, said short-term rentals erode the residential character of a neighborhood and bring problems such as noise and traffic.
“It’s a liability for the neighborhood that it’s in. It’s not an amenity that any (resident) wants,” she said.
Other cities are struggling with the same concerns.
Elsewhere:
In Florida, cities and counties are asking state lawmakers to give them more say in how the rentals are regulated. A 2011 law prohibited local government from banning the businesses, said Barbara Beatty, executive director of the Florida Vacation Rental Managers Association.
In New York City last year, a municipal board reversed a decision to fine a man $2,400 for renting out his apartment through Airbnb. The city started cracking down on short-term rentals under a 2010 state law that made it illegal to rent apartments in residential buildings for fewer than 30 days.
In University Park, Texas, city leaders thought about regulating short-term rentals but decided against it after staff members reported few offerings in town, said Steve Mace, community information officer.
The Florida Vacation Rental Managers Association is against changing the Florida law to give cities more power. The group says that could hurt the industry. It found in a recent study that vacation rentals are worth $31 billion to the state’s economy.
“You’d be doing serious harm to the economy of Florida,” Beatty said.
HomeAway, the company that runs VRBO and other short-term rental websites, supports the regulation of the industry. The company is the world’s leading online rental marketplace with 890,000 listings in 190 countries.
It likes regulations that balance the needs of neighborhoods with the economy and ensure safety for travelers.
“When these goals are met, we believe communities, travelers and the vacation rental industry benefit,” said Carl Shepherd, co-founder and chief development officer at HomeAway.
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On the Net
Vacation Rentals by Owner (VRBO): www.vrbo.com
Airbnb: www.airbnb.com
