Anyone owning a residential short-term rental property in Locust Grove now has more rules to follow.

As has been done in other municipalities in Henry County, the City Council voted at its December 5 regular meeting to approve an ordinance establishing various regulations for properties in residential zoning districts that are available for short-term rental on various online platforms such as AirBnB.

Under this new ordinance, each short-term rental property is required to be under its own permit, all inspections are to be conducted by city inspectors, and the occupational tax license number for the unit is to be posted in all advertisements.
In other business, the council voted to approve an $8.9 million operating budget for the 2023 fiscal year. Also approved was a stream buffer variance to allow grading and paving into the required 75-foot buffer for a 903,200-square-foot warehouse development on 109 acres at Hwy. 42 and Pine Grove Road. City staff said there would be no impact on the surrounding streams.

The council also approved the installation of a heavy-duty modular speed bump to serve as a traffic calming device and reduce motor vehicle speeds on Jackson Street.