Local governments across Virginia are crafting new regulations to allow homeowners to rent their houses through online platforms like Airbnb. As Michael Pope tells us, the last-minute flurry of activity comes as members of the General Assembly are about to consider statewide regulations.
Members of the Blacksburg Town Council will be voting this week on a new ordinance that would regulate Airbnb for the first time there. During a council meeting last month, homeowner Aaron Herrington said a proposed 45 day limit probably mean he would have to move.
“That will adversely affect people like myself who were, about two years ago, really weighing the options about whether I could continue to live in Blacksburg or not.”
Council members in Blacksburg responded by increasing the limits — 90 days for renting a room in the house if the homeowner is there and 30 days for renting the whole house. Meanwhile in Arlington, County Board members voted over the weekend to limit rentals of the whole house to 180 days a year. Board member Jay Fisette:
“I do think this will serve and should serve to provide some really good, well-grounded information to the legislature and those making decisions in Richmond.”
The General Assembly might take action that would supersede the regulations in Blacksburg and Arlington. Or the legislature could grandfather in local governments that have already crafted rules. That discussion will kick off this week in Richmond when the Housing Commission considers a draft bill outlining a statewide approach to Airbnb.
