City councilors expected to vote on short-term rental limits

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – The Albuquerque city council is expected to vote Monday on a measure that would decide the fate of short-term rentals in the metro and change how they operate.

Councilors have spent the last six months considering the proposed changes which should be voted on tonight.

Originally, the ordinance would have capped the number of short-term rentals in Albuquerque to 1,200- that may no longer be the case if the new amendment is approved.

The proposed change would drop the 1,200 cap and replace it with a rule that would require at least 330 feet in between every short-term rental- which would roughly be one short-term rental per block.

“It limits the number of short-term-rentals that can be in a neighborhood,” said City Councilor Tammy Fiebelkorn. “It gives a distance separation requirement for that. But we took out all of those limitations on overall city caps and caps on individual ownership.”

If passed, the proposal would only affect people trying to apply for new permits or renewing old ones. The proposal also calls for increased civil fines, over the criminal penalties currently in place.

The proposal also allows rental owners 30-days to respond to any fines, which can also be appealed. Owners who receive three violations in one year could also have their permits revoked for two years- under the proposed amendment.

“Once you’ve been notified that you are out of compliance, there would be some financial penalties,” Fiebelkorn added. “And if you’re not fixing that, at some point down the road you would lose your ability to operate that unit as a short-term-rental.”

Proponents say the move would increase the availability for affordable homes, but opponents say it would only keep people from investing here. The proposed ordinance would also require a local property must be on call to respond to maintenance and security issues. The city council meeting is set to begin Monday at 5 p.m.

“It’s easier for the city to actually implement,” Fiebelkorn explained. “I think that’s a win-win that I have not heard anyone complain about. I do think that it will make it easier for short-term owners to understand the process.”