What started as a midweek gathering in Raleigh’s Starmount neighborhood turned into a full-blown overnight rager, neighbors say, with crowds spilling into the yard and cars jammed along Donna Road. By the end of Wednesday night, residents say they were rattled, dialing 911 repeatedly and once again asking the city to crack down on a short-term rental they see as a chronic problem.
Neighbors told CBS17 that dozens of people packed into the home Wednesday night and that police were called multiple times over loud noise and other disruptions. Resident Eric Bowers said officers have shown up at the property several times since he moved in last year and that he heard 14 loud pops that sounded like gunshots before calling 911. Neighbors say the short-term rental has drawn complaints for years and has become a recurring source of tension on the block.
In a statement to CBS17, Airbnb said it “bans disruptive parties and nuisance properties and has suspended the listing while it investigates.” The company also told the outlet that disruptive parties made up fewer than about 0.035% of reservations globally in 2024.
House Was Scene of October Shooting
The same house was already on police radar last October, when officers responded to reports of shots fired in the 3500 block of Donna Road. As reported by WRAL, three people were arrested on misdemeanor charges after firing shots into the ground, and no one was injured.
Raleigh Rules and Enforcement Options
The City of Raleigh allows short-term rentals as a limited use in several residential zoning districts and requires hosts to obtain a zoning permit, according to the city’s guidelines. State lawmakers have also been weighing how far local governments can go in regulating these rentals, and a proposed bill that would restrict some municipal rules has made enforcement trickier for cities trying to rein in repeat nuisance properties, WSOC reported…