SANTA FE – The Santa Fe City Council has approved a proposal aimed at making it easy for residents to rent out casitas or guesthouses amid rising rents in the state’s capital.
Councilors voted late Wednesday to back a proposal to allow two rental homes on single-family lots.
The most controversial change drops an existing requirement that a property owner must reside on the lot before a second unit like a casita can be rented out.
Proponents of the changes say it was needed to address the city’s housing shortage and high rents.
Opponents say it would lead to the commercialization of residential neighborhoods, increase traffic and create parking issues.
