House Committee Easily Passes Bill To Block Short-Term Rental Bans

A House committee easily advanced legislation Tuesday that would block local governments from banning short-term rentals such as Airbnb.

No one spoke in opposition during the committee hearing.

The bill would allow local governments to require permits for those who operate short-term rentals. It would also allow a $150 fee for those permits.

And while the measure would prevent a local unit from banning short-term rentals, it would allow that unit to revoke the permit if the rental is cited three or more times for ordinance violations.

Jim Borthwick operates a short-term rental in Indianapolis. He says the measure helps protect businesses he argues contribute significantly to tourism and local economies.

“You have these hosts who are really on the front lines of representing what Hoosier hospitality’s all about,” Borthwick says.

The bill would limit short-term rentals to no more than 180 days total in a year and 30 days in a row.

A similar bill could not garner enough votes to pass last session.