SOUTHEASTERN N.C. — It was a seven-plus-year topic of contention among city officials and residents as short-term rentals became more prevalent locally, especially with the rise of Airbnbs and VRBOs.
Wilmington City Council voted on the approval of a 2019 ordinance requiring homeowners that rent their property officially register with the city, which came with fees, as well as follow a new set of parameters.
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While rentals were allowed in mostly all zonings, they had to have a 400-feet separation between rentals, a cap on the number of rentals allowed within residential areas (2% of all units), a parking requirement, and additional rules involving parties and noise.
However, in April 2022 the N.C. Court of Appeals — comprising a three-judge panel — ruled unanimously that provisions within the ordinance violated state law. Council had to pay back a half-million dollars to residents in fee collections and dropped its registration requirement on rental properties.
Here is a look back at the full story:
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