D.C. Bill Would Restrict Short-Term Rentals

"A bill introduced Tuesday in the City Council would put strict limits on D.C. residents who use Airbnb and other home-sharing services to rent out a room or a full house to visitors, reining in a practice that is increasingly popular and profitable — albeit largely unregulated — across the city," reports Martin Austermuhle.

"The bill, introduced by Council member Kenyan McDuffie (D-Ward 5), would require that residents who use the services acquire a new business license that would be created for short-term rentals," adds Austermuhle. Another key aspect of the proposed regulations would require residents renting on home-sharing services to live on the property, "effectively stopping someone from using a second home they do not occupy for short-term rentals."

If approved, the new regulations would put Washington D.C. in the company of cities like New Orleans, Denver, and Anaheim, which have all drastically restricted, to different degrees, the use of short-term rental services.