Stillwater Lawmakers Work to Legalize Airbnb Rentals

The Stillwater City Council wants to welcome Airbnb and other services that allow residents to use their private homes for short-term rentals into the city. While the practice exists in Stillwater, it’s still illegal under current law.

The Stillwater City Council wants to change that, according to the Stillwater Gazette. The council also wants to regulate the practice to prevent potential issues.

City officials began looking at short-term rental services after receiving complaints from local bed and breakfast operators, who must pay a lodging tax and follow specific regulations in the city. Because short-term rental housing operations are banned and therefore not currently regulated, residents who do put their homes up on sites like Airbnb evade taxes and codes.

Mayor Ted Kozlowski told the Stillwater Gazette he wants to limit the number of short-term rental permits in the city and heavily enforce any regulations that are passed.

Read much more at the Stillwater Gazette.

Image via Joshua Heyer, Flickr, used under Creative Commons