Worcester creating Airbnb regulations
Airbnb locations are spread throughout Worcester and contrasted by the city's hotel locations that are more centrally located on this map based on listings from last year.
The Worcester City Council has authorized City Manager Edward Augustus to create regulations that would limit Airbnb stays to commercially zoned areas and require those offering the service to obtain a business license from the city.
The request by the council was voted through at Tuesday’s council meeting along with four amendments that councilors put forward. Those amendments included requests for more information about the company, what other communities have done to regulate it and more information about hotel tax revenue as related to Airbnb, according to city officials.
The Internet-based Airbnb allows people to rent out rooms, apartments or whole homes. It has filled in the void left in Worcester by a lack of hotel rooms in the city, with listings spread throughout the area's residential neighborhoods.
The wording for the main request, as drafted by City Councilor Gary Rosen, is:
Request City Manager create some kind of regulations/ordinances to require those residential houses and buildings that are associated with Airbnb or similar companies and who offer short and long-term overnight lodging be permitted only in commercially-zoned areas and require such establishments obtain a business license from the city.
The city manager will now explore regulations surrounding Airbnb, draft up a proposal and return to the city council at some point in the future for a vote.
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