A recent incident in North Myrtle Beach has brought attention to the city’s short-term rental policies. On June 26, a large fight involving several hundred people and fireworks broke out in the Crescent Beach area, prompting numerous 911 calls. The police department responded to the scene, and while no arrests were made, the incident has raised concerns about the city’s ability to manage large gatherings in residential neighborhoods.
Rental Accountability Rule
The city has been considering a ‘responsible local agent’ ordinance, which would require every rental to have a local contact available 24/7. However, the plan has stalled due to pushback from out-of-town owners who claim it is costly and biased towards large local managers. The city has approximately 5,400 licensed short-term rentals, with about 1,700 having no local responsible party.
The recent incident has highlighted the need for the city to take action on the rental rule. Mayor J.O. Baldwin III, who campaigned on public safety and has expressed concerns about short-term rentals with large gatherings, now faces a test of his platform. Residents and visitors alike have a stake in whether the council will finally act on the rule it keeps putting off.
Original reporting: MyrtleBeachSC News — read the source article.
