COLUMBIA, S.C. — The debate over short-term rentals in Columbia is continuing, with the city’s Planning Commission now recommending changes that would loosen restrictions for homeowner rentals who live on their property.
The proposed amendment would apply only to owner-occupied short-term rentals, allowing homeowners to rent out a room in their residence while continuing to live on site. If approved, those rentals would be permitted in all residential areas across the city.
Currently, an ordinance passed by Columbia City Council on January 6 restricts short-term rentals such as Airbnb and VRBO to mixed-use or commercial zones, as well as the outer edges of residential neighborhoods. The rule was designed to keep short-term rentals out of the interior of residential areas…