An estimated 80-90 percent of short-term rentals could be outlawed if a proposed bill passes in Washington, D.C.
The DC Chief Financial Officer has released a report that sheds new light on the details of a preliminary bill, first released in January 2017, to limit short-term rentals in Washington, D.C.
David Alpert reports that the DC Chief Financial Officer has found that the bill is far more expansive than many observers realized. "[A]ctually, it turns out, this bill will outlaw 80-90% of all short-term rentals, even for people who are renting a room in their house when home or for only a small percentage of time when away," according to Alpert.
Those expansive powers come from a provision in the bill that would enforce current city law requiring short-term rental owners to get a permit in residential areas. Alpert explains:
This provision is actually just reinforcing the current law. Right now, most Airbnb rentals are not actually legal. Many people didn't know. This provision has not been enforced, and mostly not enforceable since the government isn't tracking who is renting through Airbnb. The bill will change that.
According to Alpert, city staff hadn't necessarily intended all the effects of the proposed bill described by the Chief Financial Officer's report. The CFO also found that the bill would reduce revenue to the District, so it's possible this version of bill is bound for revisions, or perhaps even failure.
FULL STORY: DC’s new Airbnb bill will prohibit far more rentals than its proponents thought
D.C. Bill Would Restrict Short-Term Rentals
The nation's capital could join other cities around the country in drastically limiting the use of Airbnb and other short-term rental companies.
Running Rampant: How Short-Term Rentals Impact Communities With Loose Restrictions
Brendan O’Brien, author of “Homesick,” talks with us about his new book and what he's learned about the effects of short-term rentals in communities like Flagstaff, Arizona; Bozeman, Montana; and St. George, Utah.
How Short-Term Rental Restrictions Impact Urban Planning
Short-term rental regulations are a hot topic in the urban planning world. As more cities consider—or are already implementing—these regulations, they need to understand how they impact various urban landscape areas.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Restaurant Patios Were a Pandemic Win — Why Were They so Hard to Keep?
Social distancing requirements and changes in travel patterns prompted cities to pilot new uses for street and sidewalk space. Then it got complicated.
Map: Where Senate Republicans Want to Sell Your Public Lands
For public land advocates, the Senate Republicans’ proposal to sell millions of acres of public land in the West is “the biggest fight of their careers.”
Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.
San Francisco Suspends Traffic Calming Amidst Record Deaths
Citing “a challenging fiscal landscape,” the city will cease the program on the heels of 42 traffic deaths, including 24 pedestrians.
California Homeless Arrests, Citations Spike After Ruling
An investigation reveals that anti-homeless actions increased up to 500% after Grants Pass v. Johnson — even in cities claiming no policy change.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
JM Goldson LLC
Custer County Colorado
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Claremont
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)