Airbnb landlords would have to register for permits under new Indy proposal

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WHAT HAPPENED?

At the City-County Council’s Metropolitan and Economic Development Committee meeting on July 15, several neighborhood associations came together in support of a proposal to require the owners of Airbnbs and other short-term rentals to register and acquire permits for their properties.

Representatives from the Old Southside Neighborhood Association, Fountain Square Neighborhood Association and Historic Urban Neighborhoods of Indianapolis stood before the committee to express their safety concerns over short-term rental properties.

Dakota Pawlick, director of the Fountain Square Neighborhood Association and co-founder of the Coaltion to Address Short Term Rentals, said: “We created our coalition to address short-term rentals out of a clear community need. We were first approached by residents who had shots fired through their house while they were sleeping.”

Pawlick blames “negligent owners and operators” for recent shootings that happened while visitors were hosting a party at an Airbnb located on Lexington Avenue.

SUMMARY

Councilor Kristin Jones, representing District 18, said: “It’s not about taking rights away. Many of these Airbnbs are owned by out-of-state, non-existent landlords who don’t respond. This is simply about providing a registry and a permitting process.”

Residents can report issues to shorttermrenalreport.com or click here.

The committee was unanimously in favor of the proposal. The motion will carry to the full council for approval.

WHAT’S NEXT?

The next Metropolitan and Economic Development Committee meeting is 5:30 p.m. Aug. 19 at 200 E. Washington St. in the Public Assembly Room.

This brief is adapted from notes taken by Documenter Jacqueline Martinez, who covered the July Metropolitan and Economic Development Committee meeting. Read more about what happened here. Want to join Documenters? Learn more here.