NATCHEZ, Miss. – City aldermen have finally approved the ordinance regulating where Natchez vacation rental houses can be and their conditions for occupancy.
The measures are aimed at ensuring the guest houses are properly maintained and not impositions on residential neighborhoods.
Aldermen adopted the measure Tuesday after a couple of months of delays to ensure they got sufficient feedback from those concerned about the short-term rental rules.
“My main purpose, before we started at the beginning, I wanted to get everybody’s input. I got everybody’s input, and they’re satisfied with what we’ve put forward,” said Alderman Ben Davis.
The Board of Aldermen held a public hearing about the measures in June and postponed a decision so the proposed ordinance could be revised and further reviewed by Natchez residents, tourism leaders and owners of short-term rental houses, such as those offered through Airbnb and Vrbo.
Houses and downtown buildings that offer accommodations to vacationers and other short-term renters for less than a month would be subject to the regulations. They include requirements for getting city licenses, paying fees and being inspected. There are limits on the number of occupants and a ban on party events. There are restrictions governing how close the guest houses can be together in city neighborhoods and mandates for fire-suppression devices.
The ordinance was drafted with aims of guest house owners operating their businesses safely and in good order without excessive regulations while also preserving the integrity of the residential areas they’re in and ensuring they’re not a nuisance to neighbors.
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 are staying 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, according to city planner Frankie Legaux.
Davis presided over Tuesday’s vote in Mayor Dan Gibson’s absence. The mayor stepped out of the meeting, as directed by ethical standards, because he owns a guest house subject to the regulations.
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