Short-term renting is causing problems

ORANGE BEACH, Ala. - Jimmy Boyd lives on Illinois Street and has seen a lot of commotion in one rental home from spring breakers this year. "Drinking, speeding, they are loud, indecent exposure," Boyd told FOX10 News.

Indecent exposure and indecent behavior are what caught him by surprise. "There was a gentleman urinating in the front yard. He didn't think he was doing anything wrong," said Boyd.

Boyd's niece saw it too. "It was kind of uncomfortable. I have been in this neighborhood for six years and we have never seen anything like that," said Carson Boyd.

Boyd took a picture of at least ten cars in the driveway. He said drivers violated the posted speed limit, "If you really don't know the etiquette of coming in and out of here, it can be a little dangerous."

It turns out, the owner rents the home out on a short term basis. The people who are renting the home right now say they would have not paid their money had they known this was a traditional-family community.

Neighbors say they have complained to Orange Beach City leaders many times. But leaders say they can't do anything because short term renting is legal, at least for now.

The picture Boyd took has made its way to Mayor Tony Kennon's desk. He said he realizes this is a problem not only on Boyd Street, but also across the city.

"I don't think anyone would argue running a hotel-motel in a neighborhood is right," he said.

That's why he and council members are considering a restriction on short term rentals in any area zoned for residential use. "There are places where a home on the beach would be appropriate to have weekly rentals and we are going to work through that and we have mechanisms in place for that to continue."

That's good news for Boyd, he goes along with any restriction that keeps short term renters away from his home.

Right now, the council has sent the measure to the city's planning commission.
It will decide what the proposed ordinance will say.

Mayor Kennon hopes to see the measure in place by summertime. Click here to see where the residential zones are in the city.
http://www.cityoforangebeach.com/pdfs/community_development/gis_maps/orange_beach_road.pdf