The D.C. Council may consider legislation introduced by Council member Kenyan McDuffie that would put new restrictions on short-term rentals in the District, and require both hosts and rental platforms to prove they are properly licensed to operate.
Currently, Airbnb hosts are required to obtain a business license, but few do. McDuffie’s bill — the Rental Regulation Affordable Housing Protection Act of 2017— would create a new type of business licenses for the short-term rental business.
“There really isn’t a coherent, enforceable regulatory framework for short-term rental housing,” McDuffie said. “The proposed law seeks to provide a clear process for residents to obtain a license for short-term rental use.”
Under terms of the legislation introduced to the Council’s Committee on Business and Economic
Development Tuesday:
* Every short-term host would be required to obtain and maintain the new business license, and Airbnb and other hosting platforms would be required to publish and verify each business license number.
* An owner/host would be required to be present during the short-term rental stay, one would not be allowed to rent more than one residential unit. That unit must also be the host’s permanent resident in the District.
* A host would be allowed to offer a short-term rental as a vacation rental without being present, but for no more than 15 nights cumulatively in any calendar year.
Click here to read the rest of the story written by Jeff Clabaugh and Kristi King over at WTOP