Jeffersonville considers moratorium on short-term rentals after residents raise concerns

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Concerns are being raised after an explosion of short-term rentals in Jeffersonville like Airbnbs and Vrbos.

City leaders said more than 100 new rentals popped up just this year, and many neighbors aren't happy. Now, Jeffersonville may press pause on these type of rentals.

Many people like short-term rentals, which offer the privacy and comfort of home while away from home. But some southern Indiana residents said that convenience comes with a price.

Joseph Chanting and his son Louie are staying at an Airbnb in Jeffersonville.

"We stayed here before at actually a differently Airbnb and liked the area," he said. "It was a nice area to stay a little quiet."

But residents of the Port Fulton and Franklin Commons neighborhoods near downtown Jeffersonville want the city to do something about an influx of short term rentals. They shared their concerns about noise, traffic and safety with City Council Monday night.

"If our neighborhoods are overrun with short term rentals, the character of the neighborhoods are going to significantly change. Instead of neighbors we have tourists. We have strangers," said one resident at the meeting.

City Councilman Bill Burns said the city's planning director reported there are about 330 short-term rentals in the city, and 100 new rentals popped up just this year.

"So the numbers were a little alarming," Burns said. "I didn't think they were increasing that fast."

Right now, Burns said there are no city regulations for short-term rentals.

"No registration required, no inspections, nothing unless you're remodeling and your doing electrical plumbing. Then you'd have to get a building permit," he explained.

That's why the Jeffersonville City Council is considering a moratorium or a pause on new short-term rentals.

Council President Dustin White told WDRB that Indiana law prohibits the city from regulating the number of short-term rentals, but it can regulate how they operate.

Reed Martin manages short-term rentals and has questions about what potential regulations could look like.

"I don't want a few bad apples to ruin it for everybody," Martin said.

The council ultimately voted 7-1 to table the moratorium discussion for now. It hopes to tackle this issue at the next meeting and have something in place by August.