Hinsdale Airbnb Ban Would Be More Rigid Than Most

HINSDALE, IL – Hinsdale is poised to enact one of the strictest bans among wealthy Chicago suburbs for short-term rentals such as Airbnbs and VRBOs.

In March, the village's Plan Commission voted unanimously to recommend prohibiting short-term rentals that last less than three months. That was less than the six months preferred by Village President Tom Cauley, although a minority of commissioners preferred Cauley's idea before compromising.

Patch has checked 16 other wealthy suburbs and found that just two others – Inverness and Lincolnshire – have three-month bans on rentals. None of the towns surveyed are for longer than that.

Three neighboring North Shore towns – Glencoe, Winnetka and Kenilworth – say they ban short-term rentals, but include no minimum times.

At a March hearing of Hinsdale's commission, Airbnb landlords urged the village to go with one month, the threshold for other DuPage County towns.

But neighbors of Airbnbs pushed for longer periods, saying they endure noise and other issues with short-term renters. They said they are put at risk because they have no idea who is living next door.

Here is what Patch found out about other towns' rules on short-term rentals:

• Barrington: 30 days
• Burr Ridge: 30 days (only three times a year)
• Clarendon Hills: No limit
• Darien: 30 days
• Elmhurst: No limit
• Glencoe: Short-term rentals prohibited, no specific time listed
• Highland Park: 40 days
• Inverness: 3 months
• Kenilworth: Short-term rentals prohibited, no specific time listed
• La Grange: No limit
• Lake Forest: 30 days
• Lincolnshire: 3 months
• Naperville: 30 days
• Northbrook: 30 days
• Western Springs: No limit
• Winnetka: Short-term rentals prohibited, no specific time listed

Last week, the commission took a final vote on recommending a three-month ban. The matter is headed to the Village Board.