Columbus, Ohio – Under proposed GOP legislation, villages, cities, and other local governments in Ohio would be prevented from prohibiting AirBNB-style short-term rental units in their areas.
According to co-sponsor Rep. Sarah Fowler Arthur, a Republican from Ashtabula in northeastern Ohio, short-term rental options such as AirBNB, bed and breakfasts, vacation stay company VRBO, and others help boost local economies by bringing in tourists who spend their money at restaurants and attend events.
The proposal, according to Arthur, protects the rights of private property owners while enabling local governments to enforce public health, fire, traffic, and other codes.
Following discussion before the House State and Local Government Committee earlier this month, Fowler said that the bill “establishes parity across Ohio while protecting Ohio’s entrepreneurs and small business owners.”
The proposal has the support of the Ohio Chamber of Commerce as well as a number of short-term rental property owners. The Ohio Municipal League is opposed to the measure, claiming that it infringes on the constitutional home rule powers.
Leave a Reply