COLUMBIA, Tenn. (WKRN) — Short-term rentals have been debated in communities across Middle Tennessee. Now, one Maury County community has passed legislation placing some restrictions on future short-term rentals.

Columbia Mayor Chaz Molder said short-term rentals have become popular even in smaller Middle Tennessee cities. Columbia's city council passed legislation to regulate short-term rentals, grandfathering in more than 100 short-term rentals that had already been operating in neighborhoods for the past 12 months.

However, the city agreed to limit new short-term rentals in neighborhoods, only allowing them in the urban corridor district in the city of Columbia. The mayor said it's important for Columbia to still keep some short-term rentals so tourists have places to stay.

"In the city of Columbia, we also have a hotel shortage," Molder said. "When someone has a choice of staying in a hotel that may be five miles away from the inner core of our city versus staying at an Airbnb that may be a walkable distance to our downtown square, I think the preference is for short-term rentals."

Molder said since city leaders met in the middle on short-term rental restrictions, they're hoping those properties will continue to attract visitors to the community.

News Source : https://www.wkrn.com/news/local-news/middle-tn-neighborhood-news/columbia-places-some-restrictions-on-short-term-rentals/