Short-term rentals on council agenda

A proposed ordinance regulating short-term rentals is on the agenda for the North Little Rock City Council on Monday.

Whether it will be given a third and final reading, preceding a vote Monday, remained unknown Saturday.

The proposal — which would regulate numbers of occupants, parked vehicles and noise in the affected residential areas where shortterm rentals would be authorized — has been delayed in part because of Senate Bill 197 at the state Legislature.

That proposed bill would essentially prohibit cities from establishing local laws that would specifically and strongly regulate, cap or prohibit short-term rentals.

“A local government shall not regulate the operation of a short term rental marketplace,” the proposed legislation states.

Local ordinances — either in place or proposed — have been controversial in Hot Springs, Fayetteville and other cities, with some residents opposing short-term rentals in their residential neighborhoods and others — mostly owners — advocating for short-term rentals with limited requirements.

The cities of North Little Rock and Little Rock, both of which view short-term rentals as a regulatory measure, tourism opportunity and revenue income in the form of permit fees and sales taxes, have put their proposed ordinances on hold while awaiting the outcome of Senate Bill 197.

The North Little Rock City Council agenda is available at https://bit.ly/3njYiOj. The proposed short-term rental ordinance is available by clicking on O-23-09 under the first item of “Unfinished Business.”