LEXINGTON, Ky. — The January 13 meeting of the Lexington Board of Adjustment will be packed with debate as officials consider 16 applications for unhosted short-term rentals under the city’s revised regulations. The updated rules, which went into effect in December, limit short-term rental density and impose stricter requirements on operators. The surge of applications highlights the growing popularity of platforms like Airbnb and VRBO, as well as the tension between rental operators and neighborhood advocates. The new rules allow the Board of Adjustment to deny permits if there is an existing rental within 600 feet or if more than 2% of homes within a 1,000-foot radius are already operating as short-term rentals. Revised Rules Draw Debate The applications reflect a variety of neighborhood dynamics. Staff recommendations include nine approvals and seven disapprovals, with several cases postponed for further review. For example, a property on Mockingbird Lane is recommended for approval due to its compliance with density and parking requirements. Conversely, a proposed rental on Walton Avenue was flagged for disapproval because it falls within a neighborhood where nearly 4% of homes are already operating as short-term rentals. Planning staff recommended disapproval for a proposed un-hosted rental on Walton Avenue. (LFUCG) Advocates and Opponents Weigh In Neighborhood groups have been vocal in their support of stricter enforcement, arguing that an influx of short-term rentals reduces housing stock and disrupts the community. Walt Gaffield, president of the Fayette County Neighborhood Council, urged the city to tighten exceptions in the ordinance, which he says allow operators to circumvent density rules. “We are not opposed to short-term rentals, but we don’t want them clustering in neighborhoods,” Gaffield told the Herald-Leader in December. Meanwhile, rental operators argue that short-term rentals are vital for tourism and local economies. “Do we want visitors or not?” Steve Dennis, a rental operator, posited to the Herald-Leader. Next Steps If approved, the nine recommended permits could bring dozens of new rental units online, further fueling discussions about the impact of short-term rentals on Lexington’s housing market and quality of life. The meeting will be held at 1:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at 200 East Main Street and streamed live on LexTV. As Lexington seeks to balance economic growth with neighborhood preservation, the Board of Adjustment’s decisions may serve as a litmus test for the city’s ability to manage short-term rental expansion under its new rules. The post Board of Adjustment to weigh 16 new Short-Term Rentals under updated rules appeared first on The Lexington Times.