Raleigh recently voted to restrict the number of guests Airbnb homeowners may shelter. The city also voted to limit the number of rooms to be used for this purpose.
According to a report from Airbnb, hosts in the Raleigh area provided housing for 143,000 people, earning $18 million in the process, in the last year. Airbnb added that this works out to about $6,000 annually for each host in the area.
The idea to pass regulations governing the practice of renting out rooms temporarily stems from the fact Raleigh has no rules currently in place. However, it appears that complaints have been made about the practice, prompting the action from the city council.
The recently-approved ordinance limits the hosts to housing no more than two adults at any given time, and allows them to use a maximum of two rooms in a dwelling for rental purposes. The ordinance also imposes a fine of $500 for any violations. Officials in this situation can use flyer printing to create mailers to make sure residents are informed.
One person who rents out rooms via Airbnb said the new ordinance is not necessary. Syvain Dufour said the complaints that have been made to the city are the same issues that arise repeatedly and have already been addressed. He added that home owners’ associations in neighborhoods throughout the city have covenants in place that residents obey.
Enforcement of the ordinance will begin in January 2020.
