The AP recently reported that the Cleveland city officials are considering legislation that would regulate, limit and tax short-term rentals arranged through sharing websites such as Airbnb. The short-term rental legislation was introduced with eyes on this summer’s Republican National Convention, which the Ohio city is hosting. Hearings are expected to be held this month on the issue.
The short-term rental legislation was introduced in early January. It would update the city’s zoning code to permit short-term rentals in residential neighborhoods, cap a host’s ability to rent at 91 days per year, set basic standards and apply a 3 percent transient-occupancy tax, among other changes.
Airbnb, the largest player in the industry, has agreed to start collecting hotel taxes if City Council signs off on the bill, but the company said the rental limit could create a hardship for hosts who rely on short-term rentals. It is pushing for a 180-day limit instead, according to an attorney representing the company.
