Hinsdale Enacts Ban On Airbnbs, Among the Strictest

HINSDALE, IL – The Hinsdale Village Board on Tuesday unanimously voted for a ban on short-term rentals, including Airbnbs, that last less than three months.

Trustees said little about the prohibition; most of the discussion occurred when the issue came up at a meeting last month.

Earlier this year, Village President Tom Cauley pushed for a ban on rentals that last less than six months. But the Plan Commission rejected that idea, compromising at three months.

At last month's meeting, Cauley acknowledged that six months was an outlier among Illinois towns. But he said three months was in the "sweet spot."

Patch, though, found that three months would be more rigid than surveyed communities. Towns such as Western Springs, Elmhurst and La Grange have no bans at all.

During hearings, Airbnb landlords urged Hinsdale to go with one month, the threshold for other DuPage County towns.

But neighbors of Airbnbs contended they endured noise and other issues with short-term renters. They said they were at risk because they have no idea who lives next door.

Last year, Hinsdale cited Hinsdale residents Ashley and Brittany Hill for having a short-term rental when the village had no ordinance banning them. A DuPage County judge threw out the citation.

Despite that decision, the village informed the Hills earlier this year that it was still enforcing a ban on Airbnbs that lasted less than one month. The village never publicly explained how it could enforce such a rule. And village trustees did not publicly ask about it.