However, the ruling did allow local governments to implement restrictions on short-term rentals such as banning them in certain zoning districts or requiring adequate parking. In April, the state appeals court ruled that under state law, local governments cannot require permits or registrations of rental properties. So they sued, saying Wilmington lacked the authority to require rental permits. When Wilmington residents David and Peggy Schroeder tried to register their short-term rental townhouse, they were denied because another rental property beat them to it with a lower lottery number. To rent out their houses, owners had to register their rentals, with permits awarded through a lottery system. City leaders there passed an ordinance in January 2019 requiring short-term rental houses to be at least 400 feet from each other and capped the number of rentals at 2% of residential lots. The inaction on short-term rental rules is being blamed on a court case that originated in Wilmington. Some residents are frustrated that more isn’t being done. When Charlotte’s City Council votes tonight on a new development ordinance, it won’t include rules on Airbnbs that many neighborhoods say they want. cities this year are implementing restrictions in line with the court’s ruling. It’s a debate that is playing out in Charlotte neighborhoods and throughout the country - one that pits the rights of property owners versus neighbors who don’t want disruptions near their houses, along with worries that short-term rentals are contributing to a housing crunch.Ĭharlotte is taking no action to restrict rentals, citing a recent North Carolina appeals court decision that places some limitations on the ability of cities to regulate them - even as other N.C. He’s more concerned that Airbnbs are taking away housing options in a city where housing prices are skyrocketing. He adds that he lived next to far noisier neighbors in his old apartment in South End. įollis says he’s not troubled by the “young kiddos with their loud music and their beers” - “we live in a big city,” he says.

Two years later, Follis looked out at his window and saw a group had taken over the driveway of the same Airbnb duplex and was filming what looked like an amateur rap music video. If you look closely, you can see that he appears to be urinating on Follis’s back tire:

The party-goer then gets out of the car and stands, oddly, at the back of Follis’s car for 15 seconds. When he watched the security video, he saw a man leaving the Airbnb party get into a crookedly parked car. The next morning, Follis found an empty Coke can sitting on the trunk of his Audi, so he decided to check his security camera. One night four years ago, next-door neighbor Steven Follis says, a renter threw a party with eight cars parked on the street. And nobody - not the owner, Airbnb or the city - seems to be able to stop the parties.

But neighbors say it’s not like the other houses in their neighborhood - it’s an Airbnb that sometimes doubles as a party house. The 1,840-square-foot duplex on 7th Street looks like many townhouses in Elizabeth.

Although each listing is advertised for up to six guests, neighbors have witnessed large parties with over eight cars parked in the driveway and on the street. (Ledger photo-house number obscured for privacy reasons) Both sides of this duplex on 7th Street in Elizabeth are listed on Airbnb.

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