Covington is considering cracking down on illegal short-term rentals in the city. The Covington City Commission was expected to vote on an ordinance to increase penalties on short-term rental landlords Feb. 28. But the commission instead amended the ordinance. Now it could get a vote March 14.
Covington Spokesman Dan Hassert says the city had issued 43 licenses but the number of units advertised online was over 400. That's when the city issued a six-month moratorium on new licenses. Since then, the number of units advertised has dropped to 317.
Other communities have tailored their own regulations of short-term rentals including Cincinnati, Milford and Newport.
Short-term rental owners argue their properties are a benefit to the community and the Covington moratorium unfairly disadvantages their business.
On Cincinnati Edition, we discuss the efforts to regulate short-term rentals in Covington and the response from landlords.
Guests:
- Joe Meyer, mayor, City of Covington
- Brandon Galeas, president, Mutter Gottes Neighborhood Association
- Alden Ashby, Airbnb owner and operator
- Kelsey Smith, Airbnb owner and operator
Listen to Cincinnati Edition live at noon M-F. Audio for this segment will be uploaded after 4 p.m. ET.
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