Columbia requires Airbnbs, similar rentals to be registered. Some still operate illegally
A couple years ago, Columbia was close to banning Airbnbs and similar rentals in most of the city — a response to upset homeowners who claimed the rentals hurt their neighborhoods with trash problems, parking headaches and noise at all hours of the night.
Airbnb operators in the city pushed back, arguing that most property managers are good citizens just trying to run a business.
So the two sides compromised, and the city passed a slate of new rules aimed at keeping tabs on Airbnb-type rentals without forbidding them.
Those rules, which required short-term rentals to be licensed with the city, were passed in April 2023 and went fully into effect in September 2023. But have they had the desired effect?
Columbia leaders say crime and code enforcement data show the answer is yes, mostly.
The Numbers
There are 423 short-term rentals registered in Columbia. The city suspects there are another 70 operating illegally, without being licensed by the city. The neighborhoods with the most registered rentals are in Earlewood (43) and Shandon (30).
In the 17 weeks prior to the ordinance going into effect, there were 24 calls for service at presumed short-term rentals. In the 17 weeks after the ordinance launched, there have been 47 calls to the police department at registered short-term rentals.
Columbia Police Chief Skip Holbrook said despite the higher numbers, they actually show the new process is working.
Of the 47 calls, 19 were “report to meet” calls that did not result in any action from the police department. Holbrook said those calls are often noise related or for some other nuisance.
The new rules have helped bring awareness to the neighborhoods, Holbrook said, both by letting residents know if there are Airbnbs on their street, and also by letting property owners know how to handle problems with unruly guests.
“It’s put antennas out in the neighborhood so if something looks out of sorts, they call,” Holbrook said.
Just six of the 47 calls for service resulted in an incident report.
There were also four calls for domestic incidents, three for a “suspicious person,” and two calls each for larceny and auto break-ins, plus a handful of other incidents.
As for code enforcement, there have been 43 cases on 27 properties registered as short-term rentals. The bulk of those violations have been for improperly storing a garbage roll-cart. There have also been 12 code violations noted at 10 different properties suspected of being illegal rentals.
One of the main reasons City Council passed rules requiring that short term rentals be formally licensed was to get a better sense of just how many rentals there were operating here. Council agreed the licensing program makes it easier to see who is playing by the rules.
Columbia Mayor Daniel Rickenmann said Thursday that the city may need to change the penalties for those who don’t register their rental properties.
“We’ve given people plenty of time to know there’s a rule around it,” he said during a city work session Thursday.
Currently, those operating a short-term rental without a permit can be fined by the city, have the rental shut-down and potentially become ineligible for the permits needed to operate it legally.
The council did not decide on any changes during the Thursday meeting.
This story was originally published November 8, 2024 at 5:00 AM.
