City Council members plot to ban residential short-term rentals in New Orleans
In response to a temporary restraining order that has been issued against the city’s regulations governing short-term rentals, Council President JP Morrell and Vice President Helena Moreno are introducing a new ordinance that prohibits non-commercial short-term rentals in residential areas.
The previous policy, which allowed for one short-term rental permit per block with some exceptions, is currently facing legal scrutiny. Morrell expressed concerns about predatory companies such as Airbnb and Vrbo, while Moreno emphasized the importance of safeguarding neighborhoods rather than prioritizing profits.
Councilmembers Lesli Harris and Eugene Green highlighted their ongoing efforts to ensure that the regulations align with legal standards and mentioned their anticipation of an upcoming court decision.
The proposed ordinance, which removes the existing regulations related to non-commercial short-term rentals, disqualifies associated permits and entrusts the City Planning Commission with further revisions to the Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance (CZO), will be presented during the council meeting scheduled for September 7th at 10 a.m.
Interestingly, it will be intriguing to see whether this bill actually gains any traction. As is the case in any major US city, policy change such as this often comes with support and backlash from either side. Because of this, even if this idea did get put into law, it may be a rocky road ahead in terms of actually implementing it and avoiding red tape.
