Lexington Council Approves New Short-Term Rental Regulations Amid Mixed Reactions

LEXINGTON, Ky. – The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council voted Thursday evening on the second reading of new regulations for short-term rentals. The council approved the measures with the exception of Councilmember Chuck Ellinger, who abstained from the vote.

The newly passed regulations aim to enhance Lexington’s appeal as a tourist destination. In a statement, Ellinger emphasized the importance of providing diverse lodging options beyond traditional hotel rooms, particularly during major events such as the Breeders’ Cup and Keeneland race meets.

Ellinger, who owns a short-term rental property, expressed concerns that the changes to the ordinances had not received sufficient scrutiny. “I thought those were all kind of substantial changes that we probably should’ve addressed in a committee instead of when we did it in a work session,” he stated.

Key changes in the new regulations include:

• Hosted occupancy reduced to a maximum of 10 people.
• Limiting the number of short-term rentals to two percent or less of residential units within 1,000 feet of residential zones.
• Prohibiting conditional use short-term rentals from being located within 600 feet of each other.

Supporters of short-term rentals, including property owner Chris Huestis, argue that these rentals bring significant benefits to the community. “We revitalize houses, we also contribute socially, bringing in people from all over the world and the U.S. to Lexington,” Huestis noted in his remarks to the council.

Ellinger hopes that the discussion around short-term rentals will continue into next year, advocating for a balance between necessary regulations and protections for short-term rental owners. He aims to facilitate further dialogue on the topic, ensuring that both community interests and business operations are adequately represented.

As the city moves forward with these regulations, the impact on Lexington’s short-term rental landscape remains to be seen. Stakeholders will be closely observing how these changes affect not only property owners but also the overall tourism experience in the area.