Honolulu Now Requires 3-Month Minimum for Short-Term Rentals
In a session last week, that featured testimony from more than 130 people, the Honolulu City Council voted 8-1 to pass new rules increase minimum stays for short-term rentals. The minimum stay will now be three months, up from 30 days.
Beyond time requirements, short-term rentals will now only be allowed in certain places, mainly in resort-zoned areas of the island. The only exceptions made might be for apartment-zoned areas close to resort areas, Star Advertiser reports.
The measure will also increase registration fees for legal vacation rentals and prohibit on-street parking in communities zoned as rural, residential or apartment-use. Vehicle traffic and parking congestion had been one of the major issues impacting local residents ever since Hawaii eased travel travel requirements.
The decision to limit short-term rentals in Honolulu comes just weeks after Hawaii ended its Safe Travels program, waiving all vaccination and testing requirements for domestic travelers.
Locals are on both sides of the debate, AP reports. “Short-term rentals are disruptive to the character and fabric of our residential neighborhoods,” said Thomas Cestare of the Lanikai Association in written testimony. On the other hand, April Perreira Pluss, who owns a Kailua home with a portion dedicated as a vacation rental, said that “the vacationer that comes here that rents for 30 days is contributing to our community”.
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Vrbo and airBB are destroying towns all over. This is a step in the right direction. Businesses can’t get workers because what little rentals are left are 2,500 and up. Make it just in town and city limits. Let short term rentals stay in rural areas where they don’t eliminate housing for workers in communities.
Three months? That’s nuts.
Agreed.