Tourist Home Definition Updated

The Town Council approved a new definition for Tourist Homes that will allow for better oversight of the popular option for visitors to the area.

The definition is now "a dwelling unit used for periods of less than 30 days for the lodging of transients and travelers for compensation." The definition removes the earlier requirement for the owner to be present during the rental period and eliminates an interpretation of short-term by clearly stating 30 days or less.

This effort is the first step in implementing Policy 7.7 of the Comprehensive Plan: Evaluate the Presence and utility of Short-Term Rentals in Southern Pines from the Perspective of a Tourist Economy Versus the Needs to Protect Neighborhood Character. You can access the CompPlan at https://sopinesnc.info/Comprehensive