Columbus City Council passes ordinance to help regulate taxes and fees for short-term rentals

COLUMBUS, GA (WTVM) - Columbus City Council passed an ordinance Tuesday to help regulate fees and taxes for short term rentals like Airbnb.

Such rentals were previously not required to follow the same guidelines and regulations as a bed and breakfast or hotels.

"There was a lot of discussion and a lot of tweeking that happened, but this is something we need to get on the front side of. We're seeing on the news almost every day, certainly every week, somewhere in the country something has happened related to an Airbnb. That’s fine things happen in all sorts of industries, but as a city and as a community, we have to be on the front side of it with the types of regulations oversights and processes," said Mayor Teresa Tomlinson.

City Manager Isiah Hugley said short-term rental providers were undermining hotels and places like Rothschild Bed and Breakfast by not paying taxes or following other health standards.

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