Matthews pursues tightening rules for short-term rentals

MATTHEWS, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — Matthews leaders are taking the first steps in regulating short-term rentals in the town.

The action comes after neighbors have expressed frustrations over noise and other issues from the properties listed on sites like Airbnb and VRBO. Mayor John Higdon noted that the leaders of surrounding towns have said that complaints aren’t over anything criminal, but mainly from parties.

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Commissioners voted 6-1 to allow the town attorney and staff to “draft language to provide relief from short-term rentals in residential neighborhoods.” Other regulatory items that could be included include occupancy limits per bedroom, limiting parties or events and parking requirements.

North Carolina municipalities are not allowed to ban short-term rentals, Town Attorney Charlie Buckley explained, but they can create language that only allows them in certain parts of town.

“You still have land-use regulatory rights over short-term rentals,” he said. “You can use zoning as means of where they are located, which districts they’re in, set parking standards.”

In October, Airbnb used artificial intelligence to crack down on Halloween parties on its properties in North Carolina.

Another point driven home was that requiring homeowners to register their properties also is illegal in the state. The City of Wilmington found itself in a lawsuit two years ago, paying $500,000 for using registrations like hotels or beds and breakfasts.

Planning Director Jay Camp said there are “several dozen” short-tern rentals in town, based on maps on the major websites, but he can’t know for sure since specific addresses aren’t provided without finalizing a rental agreement.

“It would be a lot easier to know how many we have through registration, but Raleigh said we can’t do that,” Higdon said with a follow-up jab. “Thanks, Raleigh.”

Commissioner Renee Garner was the only dissenter, saying she didn’t understand use of the word “relief.” The motion was made by Commissioner Mark Tofano.

“I would like to find a way for people to feel safe living around them,” Garner said.

Camp noted that most of the rental homes are in residential districts, and there’s plenty of research his staff needs to do.

“We can give you options today,” he said. “This is just an ask for us to begin the groundwork.

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