Many cities popular with tourists are dealing with the effects of a proliferation of short-term rental properties (brokered through the use of online platforms like Airbnb). New Orleans just took steps to legalize, but limit, short-term rentals.
"The New Orleans City Council approved Thursday (Oct. 20) what were described as landmark short-term rental regulations, legitimizing a practice that has flourished in recent years through listing websites," reports Kevin Litten.
"Most notable in the new rules is a limit on whole-home rentals to out-of-town guests to 90 days a year, and an outright ban on them in most of the French Quarter."
The issue of whether and how to regulate short-term rentals has caused heated controversy in recent years in New Orleans. "City Council members said the issue was among the most difficult they have encountered in recent memory," according to Litten.
Litten also cites Deputy Mayor Ryan Berni, who was on hand at the deciding City Council hearing to make the case for the approved regulation as "a fair compromise that balances the significant economic impact -- Airbnb estimates $316 million in New Orleans short-term rental revenue last year -- with the "integrity" of New Orleans neighborhoods."
FULL STORY: New Orleans City Council legalizes short-term rentals, limits whole-home listings
New Orleans Already Rethinking its Short-Term Rental Regulations
New Orleans passed short-term rental regulations into law in October 2016, and launched a permitting process launched in April 2017. By May 2018, some city councilmembers are already proposing change.
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.
Short-Term Rental Ban Expanded to All Residential New Orleans Neighborhoods
In the wake of a lawsuit, the city has extended its existing short-term rental moratorium to include existing permits and applications already submitted.
The Unceremonious Death of a Freeway Expansion Project
The end of an Oregon freeway project didn't get much fanfare, but the victory is worth celebrating.
Converting Golf Courses to Housing Never as Easy as the Market Would Like
Thousands of golf courses have closed in recent years, but the obvious redevelopment opportunity represented by many defunct courses isn’t always easy to realize.
Houston To End Bike Share Program
Lacking the funding it needs to continue, Houston’s BCycle bike share system will end operations in the coming months.
Making Colorado’s Front Range Rail a Reality
Local leaders are scrambling to bring together the funding and political support to create new intercity rail service in the fast-growing region.
How College Campuses Fulfill an Urbanist Dream
Most college campuses in the United States are inherently walkable, mixing various uses with diverse housing options and transit networks.
Austin in Race Against Time to Secure Freeway Cap Funding
With a major freeway expansion project looming, the Texas capital is seeking federal funding to build several freeway ‘decks’ downtown.
Caltrans
Caltrans
Knoxville-Knox County Planning
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Washington University
Mpact: Mobility, Community, Possibility
Lassen County Planning and Building Services
City of San Carlos
National Capital Planning Commission
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.
