NATCHEZ, Miss. – The Board of Aldermen put off adopting new regulations Tuesday for rental properties that accommodate short-term tenants, such as tourists.
Aldermen said they want to seek more input from tourism leaders and owners of Natchez guesthouses, such as those offered through Airbnb and Vrbo. Alderman Valencia Hall said she’s been “inundated” by calls from stakeholders concerned about the so-called short-term rental ordinance being proposed
The board did hold a public hearing last month about how to regulate the guesthouses that offer accommodations to vacationers and other short-term renters for less than a month. Aldermen have more revisions to make on the ordinance, such as allowing guesthouses to be concentrated closer together in city neighborhoods and determining what fire-suppression measures are needed.
Any adopted ordinance would be aimed at enabling guesthouse owners to operate their businesses without excessive regulations while also preserving the integrity of the residential areas they’re in and ensuring they’re not a nuisance to neighbors. The city is also trying to develop measures to ensure it collects the special lodging taxes imposed on people who stay in Natchez hotels, motels, bed-and-breakfast inns and guesthouses.
As defined by the city, a guest house is rented in full for short-term stays. It differs from a bed-and-breakfast inn where lodgers stay with residential owners or managers.
There are at least 20 guest houses that have been licensed by the city to operate — a list that’s grown much in recent months, said city planner Frankie Legaux.
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Aldermen have scheduled an Aug. 22 public hearing on revising the city’s noise ordinance aimed at new controls on blaring music, loud cars and and other disruptive sounds. There would be noise limits that would vary for the city’s residential and commercial areas.
In discussing what to do to curb outside noise, the mayor and aldermen have noted the new city regulations could specify decibel levels that can’t be exceeded. Police officers could be equipped with meters to gauge the noise’s intensity. An 11 p.m. curfew could be imposed on venues where allowable loud music could be played.
The drafted noise ordinance does relax rules for certain public gatherings, such as concerts, parades and ball games, and for the operation of yard machines during daylight hours.
The mayor said the drafted noise ordinance should be posted on Natchez’ city website prior to the Aug. 22 hearing at 5 p.m. in the City Council Chambers building.
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