Columbus weighs tougher short-term rental rules
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The city of Columbus is considering cracking down on short-term rentals like Airbnb and Vrbo while state lawmakers are again proposing taking that authority away.
Why it matters: Several local communities have restrictions aiming to improve public safety, preserve residential neighborhoods' character and ease the local housing crisis.
- But a mass shooting at a short-term rental party house over the July Fourth weekend has some questioning if Columbus' requirements are strict enough.
Catch up quick: One teen died and five others were injured in the early-morning shooting. No suspects have been identified or arrested.
- The owner obtained a city-required permit for the Vrbo-listed property near East Livingston Avenue and the host had hired security for the event, according to news reports.
- Police had warned the 100-or-so partygoers to quiet down shortly before the shooting.
The big picture: Columbus' number of short-term rental properties has ballooned in recent years, even after enacting permits in 2019, WBNS-TV reports.
- Other cities nationwide have also cracked down, and even Airbnb itself was touting its "anti-party technology" this year.
- Whitehall City Council discussed potential new restrictions at a meeting this month.
Zoom in: Lawmakers are considering another bill to regulate short-term rentals at the state level and limit municipality authority to do so.
- Outright bans, such as those in Obetz, Upper Arlington and Worthington, would no longer be permitted under the proposed law. Neither would owner-occupancy requirements like in Bexley, Groveport and Grandview.
- Permit fees, which in Columbus range $75-150, would also be limited to $20.
- And cities could no longer use zoning to regulate properties, like in Hilliard, which limits short-term rentals to its Old Hilliard neighborhood.
What they're saying: Representatives of several local cities, including Columbus, testified against the bill as preempting "home rule."
What we're watching: Mayor Andrew Ginther's office hasn't yet cited any specific regulations being considered.
- "Proposals will be brought forth as they're carefully vetted," spokesperson Jennifer Fening told Axios Friday.
- The mayor is "asking city departments to put all options on the table to keep people and neighborhoods safe," and police are "engaging with their peers and scheduling meetings with short-term rental companies to identify potential solutions," Fening said.