LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — The Clark County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a new short-term rental ordinance designed to stop short-term rental host companies like Airbnb from collecting payments for stays with unlicensed short-term rental hosts.
WATCH | Mary Kieler has the latest on what this means:
“If you are an unlicensed short-term rental, that means you’re not licensed; you’re not permitted to do business in Clark County legally," Commission Chair Michael Naft previously said. "And so, what this does is ensure that the platforms are following, essentially, those rules.”
Numerous owners of short-term rental operators have spoken before the commission to share their thoughts, with 26 people speaking in public comment during today's meeting.
Some spoke in support of the ordinance amendment, citing concerns over quality of life issues.
"We need restrictions on short-term rentals to promote and protect affordable housing, and we need swift enforcement when platforms and hosts try to skirt the law," said Andre Dixson.
"The right of an STR owner to profit from a property does not supersede the rights of neighboring homeowners to feel safe and peaceful and peacefully enjoy their homes," another person said.
“The regulations before you today make it harder, not easier, for those same families to use their properties to support themselves,” said Jackie Flores, the founder of the Greater Las Vegas Short-Term Rental Association.
One Airbnb host said, "Regardless of our individual circumstances, homeowners need a fair path to compliance before the county creates a system that cuts off our ability to earn the extra income that we desperately need."
Following the approval, we received the following statement from Flores:
“The county wants you to believe today’s vote is about reining in 'lawless' individuals and platforms. It is not. This is about people like Zina and Juan, welcoming their next child into the world while relying on hosting to support their family. About Leslie, a widow, senior, and disabled veteran trying to keep up with the cost of living by renting a room in her house to travelers. And most of all, about Louis Koorndyk, a local host whose life we celebrated just this past weekend after he lost his battle with cancer, and who spent years fighting for a license so he could keep hosting and pay for his medical treatment. This fight is about everyday Nevadans who deserve to take part in the economic opportunities this community has to offer — and it is far from over."
Clark County released this statement:
“The Board today conducted a public hearing before voting to approve an ordinance related to short-term rental listing platforms such as Airbnb and VRBO and today’s action will prohibit these platforms from facilitating a point-of-sale transaction with short-term rentals that are not licensed in unincorporated Clark County. This effort will help to address the public safety concerns the County receives from neighbors of unlicensed short-term rentals while providing a clear pathway for those licensed to be booked by customers. Despite public comments to the contrary, this ordinance change does not target the owners and operators of short-term rentals but rather helps to better identify those properties that are licensed to be reserved. As a reminder, the County was required by the Nevada Legislature to create a process for the licensing and enforcement of short-term rentals, and this process does need to balance the concerns of the community while creating a properly licensed business pathway.”
Mary Kielar heard from other Airbnb owners and their thoughts on the proposal:
