Thanks to the internet, is this a golden age of direct-to-consumer, everyday necessities like living quarters -- think AirBnB or Couchsurfing -- to transportation -- think Uber and Lyft? Is laundry next? What about eating? And is this the next generation of internet-brokered person-to-person deals, beyond the eBays and Craigslists?
In Asheville, a tourist destination among the unrivaled western North Carolina mountains, the present issue is the short-term residential rental, even
rising to the level of national news.
It's reported that the City had been looking at least since 2013 at zoning and fees and other regulatory approaches to short-term rentals, of which AirBnB is a purveyor. Short-term rentals for less than 30 days time, in a structure separate from the primary residence (say, a detached garage or an apartment), is illegal in most parts of Asheville, we understand; renting a room in one's home for less than 30 days is legal under certain conditions.
It's reported that a draft study from a City-retained consultant, released today, recommends that the City "limit" the number of short-term rentals in the City and charge fees of the owners.
We'll pass on the study when we can locate a copy.
"We'll need to share the bathroom and tell people we're dating.
You know, to comply with the zoning laws. Enjoy your stay."
