Columbus weighs tougher short-term rental rules
Why it matters: Several local communities have restrictions aiming to improve public safety, preserve residential neighborhoods' character and ease the local housing crisis.
But a mass shooting at a short-term rental party house over the July Fourth weekend has some questioning if Columbus' requirements are strict enough.
Catch up quick: One teen died and five others were injured in the early-morning shooting. No suspects have been identified or arrested.
The owner obtained a city-required permit for the Vrbo-listed property near East Livingston Avenue and the host had hired security for the event, according to news reports.
Police had warned the 100-or-so partygoers to quiet down shortly before the shooting.
The big picture: Columbus' number of short-term rental properties has ballooned in recent years, even after enacting permits in 2019, WBNS-TV reports.
Other cities nationwide have also cracked down, and even Airbnb itself was touting its "anti-party technology" this year.
Whitehall City Council discussed potential new restrictions at a meeting this month.
Zoom in: Lawmakers are considering another bill to regulate short-term rentals at the state level and limit municipality authority to do so.
Outright bans, such as those in Obetz, Upper Arlington and Worthington, would no longer be permitted under the proposed law. Neither would owner-occupancy requirements like in Bexley, Groveport and Grandview.
Permit fees, which in Columbus range $75-150, would also be limited to $20.
And cities could no longer use zoning to regulate properties, like in Hilliard, which limits short-term rentals to its Old Hilliard neighborhood.
What they're saying: Representatives of several local cities, including Columbus, testified against the bill as preempting "home rule."
What we're watching: Mayor Andrew Ginther's office hasn't yet cited any specific regulations being considered.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Bloomberg
2 days ago
- Bloomberg
Airbnb Touts Good Talks With NYC Mayor Candidates on Rental Ban
After pouring more than $1 million into New York's mayoral race, Airbnb Inc. said it's having 'really good conversations' with candidates about restrictions that wiped more than 80% of its listings in the city. Chief Business Officer Dave Stephenson said he is optimistic and that politicians are starting to realize the rules haven't been good for residents, who can't supplement their incomes with short-term rentals. It has also sent hotel prices in the city soaring, he said.
Fox News
3 days ago
- Fox News
Dems can't even take the ‘joke' that is this commercial: Dr. Drew
TV personality Dr. Drew Pinsky assesses the Left's reaction to Sydney Sweeney's American Eagle commercial on 'The Ingraham Angle.'
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
Fugitive linked to South American bank robbery crew arrested after ATM bombing
He was the last man standing from a prolific bank heist crew that prosecutors say made off with millions during a string of robberies up and down the West Coast. Then he allegedly bombed an ATM in Contra Costa County. The man, identified as Diego Ananias Arellano Diaz, was arrested and charged with bank robbery and conspiracy to commit bank robbery, federal prosecutors announced Thursday. For several months, he was listed in court records only as "John Doe 2," an alleged member of a South American theft group that authorities say carried out robberies in California, Oregon and Washington. Read more: 7 Chileans accused of stealing millions in valuables from Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce and Joe Burrow The crew targeted ATMs and banks. They stayed in Airbnb rentals near their targets and were armed with construction vests, sledgehammers, blowtorches and surgical masks, according to court documents. The crew wielded signal jammers to interfere with Wi-Fi-enabled security systems, spray painted over security camera lenses and used rental cars secured on the black market. They carried out their heists between May and October 2024, according to federal prosecutors in the U.S. attorney's office for the Eastern District of California. The crew stole more than $4 million in cash, prosecutors say. A federal grand jury indicted 11 defendants on charges of bank robbery and conspiracy to commit bank robbery on Oct. 31. All the defendants were named, except for Arellano Diaz. He was listed as "John Doe 2" in a separate complaint. Read more: At least 20 burglaries in Huntington Beach blamed on South American gang Many of the named defendants were arrested in California, Florida and Chile, and their equipment was seized at an Airbnb in Welches, Ore., that the FBI said was being used as the crew's base of operations. Agents recovered toolboxes and other equipment from the rental unit, authorities said. During a review of the items on April 29, FBI agents pulled clothing that could be tested for DNA. Agents also found a GoPro video camera with a memory card inside. After securing a warrant to search the camera's memory card in early May, FBI agents discovered several video files that included one of the named defendants in the case, Camilo Guzman Sepulveda. Agents also found an image of Arellano Diaz, who at that point was still unidentified. That photo underwent facial recognition analysis, and the following day a match was made to Arellano Diaz, according to court documents. Read more: Suspected member of 'South American theft group' facing felony charges in Ventura His name was added to an arrest warrant, but that remained under seal while he was still at large. According to prosecutors, Arellano Diaz — who was using the name Fabio Hernandez — was initially arrested in Los Angeles County in February and charged with assault with a deadly weapon on a firefighter or police officer. He was released on a $75,000 surety bond, and then he vanished. On July 20, police in the Bay Area city of San Ramon identified Arellano Diaz as the man they suspected of blowing up an ATM at a local Target store. He was arrested Tuesday in Newport Beach, authorities said. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
