ATLANTA — The House of Representatives voted Thursday to create a temporary committee to study the problems and opportunities of short-term, residential rental businesses.
As tourism continues to grow in Georgia, more homeowners are taking advantage of online booking websites that simplify vacation rentals. Most are typically for four days.
Hotel owners object to having to pay taxes and fees that the vacation landlords avoid.
And since these houses are located in residential neighborhoods, the comings and goings of tenants can be annoying if there are loud parties or parking shortages.
The Georgia Supreme Court is considering a case from St. Simons Island about a beach house marketed as a location for wedding parties that neighbors and local officials say violates a county ordinance.
Rep. Jon Burns, R-Newington, said he sponsored the resolution to create the committee because he wants to investigate regulations used in other states.
“I want to study a little bit about how other folks are handling it,” he said.
The committee will meet three or four times in various locations and present written recommendations in time for next year’s legislative session.
