Decatur creates guidelines for incoming Airbnbs

DECATUR, Ala. (WAFF) – Decatur city leaders say that, like it or not, short-term rentals are growing in popularity in the city, but they are taking steps to ensure these rentals are handled the right way .

There are currently approximately 30 short-term rental properties within the city limits of Decatur.

“We see the trend coming,” said economic and community development manager Dane Shaw. “Airbnbs are all over the United States right now.”

The City of Decatur technically does not allow short-term rentals like Airbnb due to an ordinance approved in July 2016.

“We really have no way to regulate Airbnb,” Shaw said.

Shaw said with more rentals going on, the city is meeting to decide how best to monitor properties.

“We’re bringing together a group of our stakeholders from across the city to look at how best to facilitate Airbnb so that it’s good for the city and also good for rentals,” Shaw said.

Most short-term rentals are for homes located in residential neighborhoods.

“Before an Airbnb enters a certain neighborhood, we want to make sure it will be more profitable because of it and won’t destroy the neighborhood,” Shaw said.

On Wednesday, Airbnb announced that it was permanently banning parties on its properties.

“Cities that have done well with Airbnb have put some kind of limits, guidelines if you will, on being sustainable,” Shaw said. “Cities that haven’t usually run into problems on the road.”

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