Wilmington to host meeting to get input on short-term rentals

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — The City of Wilmington will host a public input meeting next week about short-term rentals in the city.

Residents of Old Wilmington (ROW) asked city council earlier this year to review the ordinance related to furnished rentals as a business within the residential zones. ROW wants the city to enforce the ordinance that doesn’t allow businesses to operate in neighborhoods, businesses that include short-term rental housing.

That’s sparked a discussion about how to handle short-term rentals within city limits. The city says short-term rentals fall into several categories, ranging from the rental of a single bedroom to several bedrooms to an entire home.  The length of stay and level of supervision can vary.

As a first step toward potential changes in the rules, city council instructed staff to get public input on the issue. The input meeting is scheduled for Thursday March 17, 6-7:30 p.m., at Forest Hills Elementary School at 602 Colonial Drive. The city says attendees will get an overview of the existing regulations for short-term rentals in the city, have the opportunity to interact with city staff who are knowledgeable about the issues, and provide input on how potential regulations could be shaped.

For more information visit www.wilmingtonnc.gov/rentals