Why limiting short-term rentals in Columbia would be wrong | Opinion
As short-term rental hosts in Columbia, my wife and I see every day how these stays provide more than just vacation lodging. They are an essential part of our city’s housing landscape, meeting the needs of traveling nurses, military families, temporary workers and people displaced by emergencies.
After Hurricanes Helene and Milton hit the south in fall 2024, short-term rentals helped connect more than 6,000 people in crisis in Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia with safe, temporary housing. These stays were not leisure trips. They were a lifeline for people who had nowhere else to go.
I read a recent guest essay in The State recommending limits on short-term rentals, and I want to respond. Bans on rentals would lock residents out of economic opportunities and remove an important safety net that helps many make ends meet. They would also drive visitors toward hotels, which are often a less flexible and more expensive option for families or for people staying in Columbia for extended work assignments, medical care or military training.
To make matters worse, Columbia is already struggling with a shortage of full-service hotels, which limits our city’s ability to attract major events and threatens our economic growth. Last year, the city lost bids to host NCAA March Madness events in 2027 and 2028 due to a lack of adequate accommodations. That underscores how our limited accommodations infrastructure is holding back economic growth and our ability to attract major events.
The benefits of short-term rentals may not be widely known, so let me spell them out. They generate millions in spending in South Carolina each year, expand lodging options and allow more people to experience our neighborhoods and culture. That spending supports restaurants, grocery stores, shops and local services. It keeps businesses open and people employed.
The city does not need arbitrary bans to solve these problems. It already has a regulatory framework in place, and in a City Council meeting last month a code enforcement official acknowledged that the biggest challenge since the ordinance was introduced in 2023 has been staffing.
Consistent enforcement of existing rules, not new restrictions, will address concerns while preserving an important source of revenue for both residents and the city.
Some critics argue that short-term rentals drive up housing prices. In reality, many of us operate them to help afford our own homes. Renting a spare room or a secondary unit can mean the difference between keeping a property and selling it.
Housing affordability is a real issue in Columbia, but many experts agree that restricting short-term rentals is not an effective way to address it. The only real winner from these restrictions are hotels that see decreased competition and increased room rates.
More troubling are claims that short-term rentals create “stranger danger” or threaten “neighborhood character.” This type of rhetoric can disguise an effort to control who is welcome in certain areas. Columbia is welcoming, diverse and forward-looking. The city should not allow these harmful notions to shut out people who contribute to our community’s vibrancy.
If the city limits short-term rentals, it’s not just limiting tourist visits. It is reducing the housing options available for people who work in our hospitals, build our infrastructure or recover from emergencies. It is also taking away income that helps residents cover their mortgages, pay bills and invest back into their neighborhoods.
The right path forward is thoughtful planning and fair enforcement, not restrictive policies that punish responsible hosts and harm the people who rely on this housing. Short-term rentals strengthen our city’s resilience, give residents economic opportunities and ensure that Columbia remains open and adaptable in times of need.
The city should keep the door open for everyone who wants to live, work and contribute to our community, whether they are staying for a weekend or until they can rebuild their lives after a crisis. That is the Columbia my wife and I are proud to call home — as neighbors, as community members and as short-term rental hosts.
David Bergmann co-owns Heartwood Furnished Homes in Columbia with his wife Wendy.