Let’s say you’re a homeowner in Las Vegas. You want to rent your house to someone for a short amount of time – let’s say for a month or less. And maybe you want to list it on Airbnb, the online lodging marketplace. Is it legal to do that?
The answer is yes, but not in some parts of the city, or the county. And, you may have to jump through a few hoops to do it legally.
Las Vegas City Councilwoman Lois Tarkanian supports a push to tighten restrictions on short-term rentals. She said the problem is not the family that decides to rent out the casita or a room in their home for a few weeks but the businesses that set up party homes in neighborhoods.
“These are people who don’t seem to care about who lives in the neighborhood or who are the people who have worked hard to make Las Vegas what it is today,” she said.
She would like to see party homes be registered with the city and approved by the city council.
"But most won’t come forward because they like to hide in the shadows," she said, "They know they are not wanted in the neighborhoods.”
Currently, hosts on sites like Airbnb have to get a business license, and pay a $500 annual fee for each rental unit.
Tarkanian would like a special-use permit added to that list.
“What gives you a right to have a business operating full time in a residential area?” she said.
The finer details of the ordinance need to be worked out like who will pay if the host doesn't follow the rules, Tarkanian said.
The ordinance is expected to come up before the city council next week.
Sasha, who was quite vocal during our interview/Courtesy: Lois Tarkanian
Lois Tarkanian, Councilwoman, the City of Las Vegas, Ward 1
