Currently, the City of Conyers residential zoning ordinance is being challenged to allow short-term rentals to operate in our residential districts. If this change is approved by our City Council and Mayor, it will be detrimental to the character of our Olde Town community.

Here's what that looks like:

• Neighborhood Disruption - The loss of permanent residents creates a revolving door of transient tourists, which degrades community cohesion. Neighboring communities have made this same mistake and are now changing regulations to protect their cities from short-term rentals. 
  • Many communities focus on preserving the integrity of historic residential districts by implementing specific restrictions on short-term rentals. Currently, Dekalb County's policy on short-term rentals states: "For purposes of historic preservation, a short-term rental license will not be approved for any dwelling unit located in the locally designated historic districts of the county."
  • Additionally, in 2024, the city of Madison, GA explicitly banned all short-term rentals from operating within the city limits.
• Investor Culture - Commercial property investment companies would have an open door to purchase residential housing, outpricing families who could be potential neighbors. This promotes short-term gains for companies, rather than promoting long-term community growth and stability for residents.
• Housing Affordability Decline - Converting traditional residential housing into full-time commercial rentals decreases the long-term housing supply.  This will create higher prices for homebuyers and those looking to rent long-term. For local residents in gentrifying neighborhoods, this pushes the cost of living beyond their means.

For all of these reasons, the residents of the Downtown Edge District of the City of Conyers are petitioning the City Council to:

• Retain and not amend the present City of Conyers zoning laws prohibiting short-term rentals
• Remove Ordinance No. 1057 allowing bed and breakfast's
• Enhance our current guidelines with stricter regulations, and enforce the existing laws to prevent short-term rentals
• Define all short-term rentals (B&B's, Airbnb, Vrbo, etc...) as "lodging" in the City of Conyers Development Code for the Olde Town Historic Residential District, Downtown Edge District, R-1 zoning. “Lodging” (a commercial use) isn’t allowed in the Olde Town Historic Residential District, R-1 zoning. 
• Enforce residential restrictions in City of Conyers historic district by making short-term rentals ineligible for approval.