From email:

Dear OHNA (Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association) Members,

As was mentioned in Tuesday evening’s OPHNA meeting, there is legislation pending in the General Assembly that would eliminate a locality’s ability to regulate STRs if those STRs are managed by a Virginia REALTOR. A copy of the bill is below. This bill would override any local regulations related to primary residence, days the property may be occupied, requirements related to parking, annual inspection, etc.

https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?ses=231&typ=bil&val=SB1391

I am writing to ask you to OPPOSE SB 1391, patroned by Lynwood Lewis, and HB 2271, patroned by Danny Marshall. Both increase affordable housing issues and eliminate common sense local regulation of short-term rental (“STR”) properties across the Commonwealth

This legislation claims to protect STR properties managed by Virginia REALTORS from restrictive local ordinances that have been enacted across the Commonwealth. In reality, the legislation removes the right of localities to impose reasonable restrictions on any STR property, so long as that property is managed by a Virginia REALTOR.

The two most significant issues with this legislation are (1) the impact on affordable housing and (2) the “one size fits all” approach to diverse communities across the Commonwealth.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING: First, this legislation would worsen an already very difficult situation in Virginia communities facing a lack of affordable housing. Investors would be able to buy up as many STRs as they want, anywhere, in any community, so long as those STRs are managed by a Virginia REALTOR. Every STR is one unit removed from the pool of properties available for home buyers or year-round renters.

REMOVES LOCAL CONTROL OF LAND USE DECISIONS: Second, this legislation strips localities of the right to make reasonable decisions for their own community. For example, localities would not even be able to require registration and annual safety inspections. This legislation is an inappropriate “one size fits all” solution across the Commonwealth, ignoring the significant differences between different kinds of communities – dense cities, resort towns, and rural areas.

This legislation clearly favors the commercial interests of STR owners, operators, and hosting platforms like Airbnb and VRBO over the interests of individuals, neighborhoods, and communities. I urge you to OPPOSE SB 1391 and HB 2271

HOUSE:
Dawn Adams – deldadams@house.virginia.gov 804-698-1068
Betsy Carr – delbcarr@house.virginia.gov 804-698-1069
Delores McQuinn – Deldmcquinn@house.virginia.gov 804-698-1070
Jeff Bourne – Deljbourne@house.virginia.gov 804-698-1071
Schyler Van Valkenburg – Delsvanvalkenburg@house.virginia.gov 804-698-1072
Rodney Willett – Delrwillett@house.virginia.gov 804-698-1073
Lamont Bagley – Dellbagley@house.virginia.gov 804-698-1074
Rozanne Robinson – drrobinson@house.virginia.gov 804-698-1027

SENATE:
Jennifer McClellan – district09@senate.virginia.gov (804) 698-7509
Hashmi Ghazala – district10@senate.virginia.gov 804-698-7510
Joe Morrissey – district16@senate.virginia.gov 804-698-7516
Siobhan Dunnavant -district12@senate.virginia.gov 804-698-7512