City officials are hosting a public meeting on short-term rentals tonight at Philander Smith College’s Nugent Center to hear residents’ stance on the debatable topic. It starts at 6 p.m.
An ordinance to adopt regulations for short-term rentals like Airbnb and Vrbo houses has been slated for discussion at the Little Rock Board of Directors meeting since September, but it’s been deferred about 10 times. Concerns of parking space, safety inspections, availability to respond to complaints and the impact on surrounding homes are all points that directors brought up in past conversations. The group could never get to a full consensus to take a vote.
In April, Director Joan Adcock requested that the ordinance be taken off of the city’s agenda until a public hearing took place. She said that all speakers who show up will be heard, but it’s likely that speeches will be time limited.
Here’s the drafted ordinance as it stands now. It includes regulations to tax the rentals like hotels and motels, annual inspections that could cost up to $500, details about parties inside the rentals and more.
The ordinance is expected to be back on the agenda for the board meeting on Tuesday.
The address for the public meeting is 900 W. Daisy L. Gatson Bates Drive.
